Audi F1 Returns to Barcelona Looking to Build on Monaco Momentum

[Source: Audi Revolut F1Team]

The Formula 1 season moves from the tight confines of Monaco to one of the sport’s most familiar venues this weekend as the Audi Revolut F1 Team heads to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for the Spanish Grand Prix.

For Audi, the race carries special significance. Barcelona was the site of the R26’s first laps during pre-season testing back in January, making it the place where the team’s 2026 campaign truly began. Now, several months later, the team returns to Spain looking to build on the encouraging performance it showed on the streets of Monaco.

Build Off Monaco

While the final results in Monaco did not fully reflect the team’s pace, Audi Racing Director Allan McNish believes there were plenty of positives to take away from the weekend.

“We showed encouraging pace in Monaco, proof that we are continuing to make progress, even if the final outcome did not reward the work that went into the weekend,” McNish said. “Barcelona presents a different challenge altogether, but it is a circuit we know well and one that provides a good reference point for measuring our development.”

Unlike Monaco’s narrow street circuit, Barcelona is widely regarded as one of Formula 1’s most complete tests. Featuring a mix of high-speed corners, technical sections, and long straights, the circuit has traditionally been used by teams to evaluate the overall performance of their cars.

Veteran driver Nico Hülkenberg is hoping Audi can carry over the speed it displayed in Monaco while avoiding the frustrations that ultimately limited the team’s result. “There were still positives to take away from last weekend,” Hülkenberg said. “Our pace was encouraging, and that’s something we want to carry forward.”

Meanwhile, rookie Gabriel Bortoleto enters the weekend with extensive experience at the Spanish circuit from his junior racing career. The Brazilian believes Barcelona’s familiarity will allow the team to focus entirely on maximizing performance. “Our focus needs to be on a clean weekend in which we can maximize the potential of our car, execute well, and hopefully come home with some points,” Bortoleto said.

Audi fans will also have another reason to tune in this weekend. Formula 3 returns to action in Barcelona, where Audi junior driver Freddie Slater will look to continue his impressive form after scoring a Feature Race podium finish in Monaco.

As Audi returns to the track where its 2026 Formula 1 journey began, the goal is clear: continue the progress, build on Monaco’s momentum, and take another step forward in the team’s development.