Audi F1’s Points Streak Ends at Monza, but There Are Reasons to Be Encouraged

[Source: Audi Revolut F1 Team]

All good things eventually come to an end. After scoring points in four consecutive races, Audi F1 finally saw its streak snapped at the Italian Grand Prix. But considering Monza was expected to be one of the most difficult tracks on the calendar for the R26, there are still reasons for Audi fans to feel encouraged. And even though we didn’t see Audi in the points, we were treated to a truly thrilling race and must give some props to the amazing Kimi Antonelli drive.

As for the Audi team, Gabriel Bortoleto came agonizingly close to extending the streak. He finished 11th, while teammate Nico Hülkenberg crossed the line in 12th. Neither result adds anything to Audi’s championship tally, but both drivers recovered from difficult starts and finished considerably closer to the points than the team feared it might heading into the weekend. They also finished ahead of rivals from Haas and Williams, so Audi remains firmly in P8 in the team standings.

“We knew Monza would be one of the more difficult circuits for our car, so to come away with both cars finishing just outside the points is a solid effort,” Audi Racing Director Allan McNish said.

Monza’s long straights and unique high-speed configuration were never expected to play to the strengths of the Audi R26. Bortoleto admitted the Racing Bulls were particularly difficult to match on the straights, but he nevertheless came within one position of another points finish. More importantly, Bortoleto said Audi gave him a car capable of fighting much closer to the top 10 than the team had expected.

Audi Made the Most of What It Had

There were also encouraging signs away from the finishing positions. Audi’s strategy calls were strong, including taking advantage of the Virtual Safety Car with Hülkenberg. The pit crew also delivered the fastest pit stop of the race, another example of the operational improvements that have become increasingly apparent as Audi’s first Formula 1 season has progressed.

“The execution across the team was very good, and that’s something we can take with us as we head to Madrid,” McNish said. Hülkenberg echoed that assessment, saying Audi had extracted about as much as it could from the package at Monza.

Obviously, Audi would rather be celebrating a fifth consecutive points-scoring weekend. But Formula 1 progress isn’t always measured by championship points alone. A few months ago, merely getting both cars within striking distance of the top 10 on an unfavorable circuit would have been encouraging. Now, finishing 11th and 12th feels slightly disappointing. That might actually be the biggest indication of how far Audi has come.

There isn’t much time to dwell on Monza, either. Formula 1 heads directly to Madrid for the debut of the new Madring circuit and the final European race of the season. The points streak may be over, but Audi’s recent momentum doesn’t necessarily have to end with it.