Bortoleto remains upbeat on Audi's F1 prospects despite reliability hiccups in testing

Audi's new F1 recruit Gabriel Bortoleto struck an optimistic tone following the team's first pre-season shakedown, acknowledging reliability issues but emphasizing the value of the laps completed and data gathered ahead of their historic 2026 debut.

Why it matters:

Audi's entry as a full works team is one of the most anticipated storylines for the 2026 season, marking a significant shift in the F1 landscape. Early reliability problems are a common, almost expected, hurdle for any new car, but how a team reacts and progresses from these initial tests sets the tone for its development trajectory and initial competitiveness.

The details:

• The RS26 stopped on track twice during the Barcelona-Catalunya shakedown, limiting running for both Bortoleto and teammate Nico Hülkenberg.
• Bortoleto described the overall test as "positive," highlighting that the team managed approximately 50 laps after resolving initial issues.
• The Brazilian driver framed the problems as part of the shakedown's purpose, stating, "Obviously, we expect all these issues, the small issues that we had here and there, because that's what the shakedown is for."
• He stressed the importance of simply getting mileage on the new car and power unit to better understand its behavior, a crucial step for a team building everything from the ground up.

What's next:

The focus now shifts to the official pre-season test in Bahrain from February 11-13, which will provide a much clearer picture of Audi's baseline performance and reliability. The data from Barcelona will be instrumental in preparing for this critical final test before the season opener in Australia. Bortoleto's comments suggest the team believes it is "going in the right direction," but the true test will come under the more intense scrutiny of Bahrain.