Audi's Next Steps: Power Unit Focus After a Season of Near Misses

Audi's entrance into the 2026 Formula 1 season was no small feat, considering the German automaker's task of developing a new power unit from scratch while simultaneously revamping the former Sauber outfit. Their debut in Australia was promising, with Gabriel Bortoleto making it to Q3 and securing points by finishing ninth—a result that exceeded expectations.

However, since that bright start, Audi's luck in scoring additional points has waned. Close finishes have been the story of their season, with either Bortoleto or teammate Nico Hulkenberg finishing 11th in five out of six races. The lone exception saw the best-placed Audi finish 12th. Despite the car's competitive pace, these results fail to reflect its true potential, particularly given opportunities presented by high attrition rates among midfield competitors.

Hulkenberg's recent races have been particularly frustrating. In Monaco, despite qualifying setbacks due to aero damage, he finished ninth only to be penalized post-race for a collision with Carlos Sainz, dropping him to 13th. In Spain, a freak incident—a stone hitting the emergency kill switch—ended his race prematurely while he was running competitively.

Audi’s Racing Director, Allan McNish, who took on the role in April, shares the team’s frustration. "It's been a bit frustrating," he admitted after the Barcelona race. "Monaco saw us lose points due to what we felt was a harsh penalty, but stewards' decisions are final. Our performance is on the cusp of Q3, and with time, these qualifying performances will convert into results."

The clear area for improvement? Audi's power unit. Mattia Binotto, Head of Audi F1, has openly stated that the power unit could be costing them up to a second per lap. McNish acknowledges the challenges: "Building a power unit from scratch was always going to be tough. We’ve made improvements, but there's limited scope given hardware homologation. Nevertheless, we're optimizing what we have."

Both drivers understand that progress will be incremental. Hulkenberg noted, "We're competitive in the midfield, but there's ground to cover to match top teams. Work is ongoing back at the factory, with mid to long-term solutions being developed."

Bortoleto echoed these sentiments, praising the chassis but acknowledging the power unit's shortfall: "Our chassis is strong, but not yet championship-winning. The engine deficit is clear, as Mattia mentioned, and it's a reality of our first season."

Audi's journey in Formula 1 is a marathon, not a sprint. With a focus on refining their power unit and ongoing development back at the factory, they're laying the groundwork for future success.