Audi F1 Team Collects More Data but No Points at Canadian Grand Prix

[Source: Audi Revolut F1 Team]

The Audi Revolut F1 Team made some steady progress over the course of the Canadian Grand Prix weekend. While the team didn’t manage to secure any championship points, they also didn’t have any devastating technical issues either. F1 Academy driver, Emma Felbermayr, continues to impress.

Audi showed encouraging pace during a competitive Saturday at the Canadian Grand Prix, with both Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto putting together solid qualifying performances at Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. In the Sprint race Hülkenberg secured P15 and Bortoleto ended up in P12. In race qualifying later in the day the team narrowly missed out on a coveted Q3 appearance, but there was still plenty of optimism inside the garage heading into Sunday’s race.

Hülkenberg once again found himself heartbreakingly close to the top ten shootout, qualifying 11th after a strong Q2 lap. The veteran driver extracted nearly everything possible from the car despite difficult low-grip conditions that made balance and drivability a constant challenge throughout the session. Hülkenberg admitted frustration at missing Q3 by such a small margin, but he also emphasized how much progress the team made compared to the start of the weekend.

Gabriel Bortoleto continued to show impressive consistency in his rookie campaign, securing 13th on the grid after another composed performance. Although the Brazilian felt slightly more comfortable in Friday’s sessions, he acknowledged the team likely maximized its current pace. Bortoleto also highlighted lingering issues with race starts, something that hurt the team during the Sprint race earlier in the day.

Audi’s Racing Director Allan McNish remained positive after qualifying, noting how closely packed the midfield battle has become. Hulkenberg missing Q3 by fractions of a second demonstrates that the team is edging closer to becoming a regular top ten contender. McNish also pointed toward the Sprint pace as a promising sign for Sunday’s Grand Prix.

The biggest wildcard for Sunday was the weather. Forecasts suggest cooler temperatures and possible rain for race day, conditions that could completely shake up the order.

On race day Hülkenberg and Bortoleto finished just outside the points in 12th and 13th place. While the final results did not fully reflect the team’s improving pace, Audi left Montreal feeling more confident about its progress heading into the European leg of the season.

Changing weather conditions played a major role in shaping Sunday’s race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Both Audi drivers gambled on intermediate tires at the start due to the damp track surface, but the rain eased quicker than expected. That forced early pit stops and dropped both cars down the order, leaving Hülkenberg and Bortoleto fighting uphill battles for the remainder of the race.

Despite the difficult strategy call, there were still positives for the team. Reliability remained strong throughout the weekend, with both cars completing every session cleanly and gathering valuable data. McNish admitted the tire decision ultimately did not work in the team’s favor, but emphasized that Audi made noticeable improvements compared to previous rounds, particularly in consistency and overall execution.

Hülkenberg described the race as demanding, noting that the opening laps immediately put the team on the back foot. Even after switching tires, he felt the car lacked enough pace to aggressively recover positions through the midfield. Still, the veteran driver remained optimistic that the team can learn from the weekend and continue improving.

Bortoleto echoed similar sentiments after the race. The rookie believed points were possible with a more straightforward strategy, but said bringing both cars home and collecting important information remained valuable for the team’s long-term development.

One major bright spot for Audi came earlier in the day when Emma Felbermayr delivered an impressive drive in F1 Academy, climbing from fourth on the grid to finish second in difficult weather conditions. Her podium result strengthens her position in the championship standings and added another positive storyline to Audi’s weekend in Montreal.

Now, the team turns its attention to the legendary Monaco Grand Prix, where qualifying and strategy could provide Audi with another opportunity to fight for points.