Audi's Bortoleto Shows Midfield Muscle with P8 Finish at Spa
Gabriel Bortoleto's eighth place at Spa-Francorchamps highlighted Audi's potential to compete in the F1 midfield. Despite power unit concerns, strategic choices and solid driving helped Audi secure a strong result.
Audi's Racing Director, Allan McNish, praised Gabriel Bortoleto for a "cool and clean performance" that delivered an eighth-place finish at Spa-Francorchamps, marking a significant achievement for Audi at the Belgian Grand Prix.
Bortoleto's result at Spa mirrored his performance at Silverstone two weeks prior, but this time, he was the best of the midfield runners, trailing only the top teams. Aided by a well-timed strategy and a bit of luck, both Bortoleto and Audi displayed strong capabilities, especially on a track where their power unit was expected to be a handicap. Yet, thanks to an impressive chassis and aerodynamic package, Bortoleto reached Q3 and started in the top ten.
Audi has struggled with their starts this season, and Bortoleto initially lost ground to Liam Lawson and Franco Colapinto, although he gained a position with George Russell's early exit. Penalties for Lando Norris and Isack Hadjar pushed Bortoleto down to P11 later, making points seem elusive.
However, when Lindblad, Lawson, and Colapinto opted for early pit stops, Audi's decision to keep Bortoleto out paid dividends. The Virtual Safety Car, which aided Charles Leclerc at the front, also allowed Audi to pit both their cars effectively.
Bortoleto leapt back to P8, maintaining his position ahead of Lindblad to secure crucial points in Audi's debut F1 season.
McNish acknowledged the pivotal role of strategy: "We knew we could extend our stint, and the VSC helped, but even without it, we were poised to challenge for points," he noted.
McNish was also impressed by Bortoleto's defensive driving: "Gabi handled the pressure superbly, maintaining a steady gap to his rivals, proving his mettle."
Previously at Silverstone, Bortoleto finished behind the Racing Bulls, but this time Audi managed to outpace them, indicating progress.
Looking ahead to the Hungaroring, a track less reliant on power units, Audi's strengths might shine through. However, McNish remained cautious: "We've made gains with our recent upgrades, but Budapest will be a different test. We aim to maintain our momentum, but we must execute flawlessly."
McNish concluded, "In Hungary, we'll target the top of the midfield, competing with Racing Bulls and Alpine. To succeed, precision in both qualifying and race execution is crucial."