Audi F1 Points Streak Hits Four Races With Hülkenberg P8 at Zandvoort

[Source: Audi Revolut F1 Team]

Audi F1 headed into the summer break with some much-needed momentum, and the team picked up right where it left off at Zandvoort. Nico Hülkenberg finished eighth in a chaotic Dutch Grand Prix, earning four more championship points and extending Audi’s points-scoring streak to four consecutive races. Getting there wasn’t easy.

The drama started on the opening lap, when changing conditions made the final banked corner especially treacherous. Max Verstappen lost control and crashed, and moments later Gabriel Bortoleto spun at the same location. Hülkenberg was directly behind his Audi teammate and narrowly avoided collecting the Brazilian’s R26.

“It was a very good race, although the end of the first lap was quite scary,” Hülkenberg said. “I saw what was happening ahead of me and just reacted instinctively.” Fortunately, both Audis survived the incident. Bortoleto was dropped down the order, but Hülkenberg was able to restart in 12th. From there, the veteran German went to work.

Hülkenberg Charges Into the Points at Dutch Grand Prix

Hülkenberg climbed four positions after the restart, making several impressive overtakes on his way to eighth. Once there, the focus shifted from attacking to managing the gap behind and securing another valuable points finish. Audi Racing Director Allan McNish called Hülkenberg’s race “superb,” praising his overtakes and the way he controlled the closing stages. The four points increased Audi’s season total to 16 and moved the team to within five points of Haas for seventh in the Constructors’ Championship.

More importantly, Audi is beginning to show some consistency. The team has now scored in four consecutive Grands Prix, confirming the improved form it demonstrated immediately before the summer break. That progress hasn’t gone unnoticed elsewhere in the paddock. Alpine Executive Advisor Flavio Briatore described Audi as “exceptionally fast” at Zandvoort following the race.

A Tougher Day for Bortoleto

Bortoleto’s opening-lap spin made his afternoon considerably more difficult. After restarting the Dutch Grand Prix from 17th, he fought his way back to 13th but couldn’t join Hülkenberg in the points. Despite the disappointing result, Bortoleto was encouraged by the pace of the car and praised the team’s efforts to help him recover. He’ll have another opportunity when Formula 1 heads to Monza in two weeks.

Audi still has plenty of work ahead, something McNish readily acknowledged after the race. But four consecutive points-scoring Grands Prix represent genuine progress for a team still navigating its first season as a full works Formula 1 operation. And after surviving a wild opening lap at Zandvoort, Hülkenberg’s eighth-place finish provides even more evidence that Audi F1 is heading in the right direction.