Hulkenberg Reflects on Tyre Strategy in Canada as Audi Misses Points Again

Nico Hulkenberg called Audi's decision to start the Canadian Grand Prix on intermediate tyres "a risk worth taking," even though it didn't pan out as hoped. Both Hulkenberg and his teammate, Gabriel Bortoleto, ended the race without points, a familiar story for the team this season.

The tricky conditions at the start of the 68-lap race in Montreal had teams scratching their heads. A light drizzle had everyone guessing, and Audi, like McLaren and Cadillac, opted for the intermediate tyres. Also joining them was Ferrari's Carlos Sainz. However, the rain relented and the track dried, forcing these drivers into early pit stops. Hulkenberg, starting from P11, finished in P12 after losing time in the pits.

"The conditions evolved differently than we expected," Hulkenberg reflected. "It was a gamble, but the opening laps didn't favor us, putting us on the back foot early on. We just didn’t have the pace to claw back the lost ground as others surged ahead." He admitted there were lessons to learn from the weekend, which he described as "demanding" and full of review-worthy challenges.

Bortoleto, who started P13, ended up in the same spot, not helped by a five-second penalty for a Virtual Safety Car infringement. The result leaves Audi still languishing in ninth in the Constructors' standings, with Bortoleto's ninth-place finish in Australia remaining the team's sole points finish this season.

"We hoped the intermediates would work in our favor, but the rain stopped quickly and that left us struggling," Bortoleto said. "After the extra stop, it was all about managing our own race and gathering data. On the upside, both cars finished, giving us some useful information moving forward."

Audi's decision to roll the dice on tyre strategy might not have paid off this time, but in Formula 1, taking risks is often part of the game. As the team looks to future races, they'll be hoping those lessons learned translate into better results.