Formula 1, Sportrik Media - Gabriel Bortoleto has identified a critical weakness in Audi F1 Team during the opening phase of the 2026 Formula 1 season, admitting the team’s race starts have been “terrible” and are undermining its competitiveness.
The German manufacturer made an encouraging debut by scoring a point in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. However, that early promise has not translated into consistent results, particularly at the Japanese Grand Prix, where Bortoleto started ninth but dropped down the order immediately after the start.
A similar pattern affected team-mate Nico Hulkenberg, with both drivers losing multiple positions on the opening lap and ultimately finishing outside the points. The recurring issue has highlighted the importance of launch performance under the new 2026 regulations.
Bortoleto explained that while the basic start procedure is largely consistent across the grid, some teams have developed their cars in ways that allow for stronger initial traction and acceleration.
“The procedure is very similar for everyone, but some teams have developed the car differently to achieve better starts,” Bortoleto said.
He admitted that Audi did not anticipate the extent of the difficulty it would face in this area, especially given the changes introduced with the new power unit regulations.
“We didn’t think it would be this difficult to get off the line. The reality is that it has been terrible so far. We know it is a big weakness and something we need to improve,” he added.
The issue is not isolated to Audi, as multiple manufacturers have encountered challenges adapting to the characteristics of the 2026 power units. However, Audi’s struggles appear more pronounced, particularly in maintaining track position during the critical opening phase of the race.
Bortoleto also acknowledged that resolving the problem will not be immediate. While incremental improvements may be possible, closing the gap to leading teams such as Scuderia Ferrari and Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team in terms of launch performance will take time.
“We can improve a bit, but not in the short term to reach Ferrari. Even compared to Mercedes, we will still struggle,” he explained.
Audi now faces increasing pressure to address this fundamental issue, particularly as strong starts remain crucial for track position in modern Formula 1. The ability to convert grid slots into race results will be essential if the team is to establish itself as a consistent points contender.
Looking ahead, Audi’s progress in resolving its start deficiencies will play a key role in shaping its trajectory throughout the 2026 season, especially as competition intensifies across the midfield battle.
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