Audi returns to Formula 1 for the second half of the season, confident in the progress made before the August break. The team hopes to turn the work done in the first races of the year into good results at the Dutch GP next weekend.
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Audi’s racing director, Allan McNish, highlighted that the break allowed the team to recharge before an important sequence: “We know there is still a lot of work ahead, but we are excited about the direction we took before the break, and the goal now is to keep building on that for the rest of the season,” he said.
McNish also acknowledged that the fight for points positions remains tight and expects Audi to be in the mix at Zandvoort. The weekend will also have the additional challenge of the Sprint format, which reduces the time available to adjust the car due to only one free practice session: “Sprint format events always bring an extra challenge because there is less time to get everything up to speed,” he explained.
Nico Hulkenberg returns after scoring points in Budapest, a result he considered a positive way to start the break. The German also emphasized his personal connection to the Dutch GP, recalling that he grew up near the border and started his motorsport career in the country: “Zandvoort has always been a special race for me,” he said.
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The German driver also highlighted the importance of competing in what will be the last Dutch GP, at least in the near future: “It’s a classic, old-school circuit, and Dutch fans always create an incredible atmosphere,” Hulkenberg concluded, hoping to repeat his performance from Budapest.
Gabriel Bortoleto, in turn, highlighted the learning accumulated by the team throughout the first half of the season: “We have learned more about the car with each race, unlocking more of its potential as we go, and it’s important that we carry this into the second part of the season,” he added.
The Brazilian also sees the Sprint race as an additional challenge but considers the format suitable for the team’s current moment: “The first half of the season ended on an encouraging note, and now the goal is to pick up where we left off,” Bortoleto concluded.
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