Sunday was a frustrating day for the Audi team in Shanghai, where Nico Hülkenberg came close to scoring points. Having missed the previous Australian GP due to a technical issue, the 38-year-old’s push into the points was thwarted by a mechanical gun failure during his pit stop, ultimately finishing 11th—just outside the championship points.
“It wasn’t a perfect race, but the most important thing for me was finally completing a full distance after missing Melbourne,” Hülkenberg commented. “These cars are still uncharted territory, especially in terms of energy management, so every lap is precious right now. There’s a lot to analyze after today. Next week, we’ll review everything, fix a few things, and head into Japan ready to restart.”
Hülkenberg and the team’s challenges
Hülkenberg had not started in Melbourne, where teammate Gabriel Bortoleto had scored Audi’s first points in the team’s F1 debut with ninth place. This time, it was Bortoleto who couldn’t take the start, withdrawing before the race alongside other drivers including Alex Albon and the McLaren duo: Oscar Piastri (in his second consecutive ‘DNS’) and reigning champion Lando Norris.
“Unfortunately, a technical problem prevented us from even starting the race,” Gabriel Bortoleto explained. “I still want to thank the team for giving their all until the last moment trying to get me back on track—I really appreciate it. This race offered plenty of opportunities: many cars didn’t start or finish, so we probably could have scored points today. Although it was obviously frustrating, this can happen at the start of a new regulatory era.”
Lessons from the opening rounds
“There are positive takeaways from these first two races,” Gabriel Bortoleto continued. “Melbourne was fantastic, and in Shanghai the weekend had been going well until the race; we were fighting for good positions and had strong pace. Now, with a week off before Japan, we’ll return to the factory to work hard with the team to find more performance in our car for the next race.”
The upcoming Japanese Grand Prix therefore represents a crucial opportunity for Audi to stabilize their operations. If the team can solve the mechanical gremlins that plagued both cars across the first two rounds, they have shown they have the driver lineup and the tactical awareness to consistently challenge the established midfield. The focus now shifts to the technical departments in Neuburg and Hinwil to ensure both cars see the lights go out in two weeks’ time.
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