Audi Revolut F1 Team confirmed itself as the sixth-fastest package in the Formula 1 field at the Austrian Grand Prix in Spielberg, though drivers Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg narrowly missed out on the top ten and left without championship points.
Both drivers executed consistent races in hot and demanding conditions, extracting the maximum from the Audi R26 while the team delivered what it described as a clean operational performance throughout the afternoon. The result, while pointless on the scoreboard, reinforced the progress the Hinwil-based outfit has made since entering the sport as a factory constructor.
Qualifying set the stage for a difficult Sunday, with Bortoleto lining up 12th and Hulkenberg 14th on the grid after a closely contested session. The fight at the front of the midfield was exceptionally tight, with only small margins separating several teams on one of Formula 1’s shortest and most power-sensitive circuits.
The weekend began with a productive Friday practice under baking Styrian sunshine, with air temperatures well above 30 degrees Celsius. Paul Aron deputised for Bortoleto during the first practice session as part of the young drivers’ FP1 programme, completing the run plan without major interruptions alongside Hulkenberg. Bortoleto returned to the car for the afternoon session, and both drivers gained valuable mileage as the team evaluated a new updates package and studied tyre behavior in the extreme heat.
Spielberg had been expected to present a challenging test for the Audi power unit and chassis combination, but the team’s ability to hold its position as the sixth-fastest outfit in the field provided encouragement heading into the European summer stretch of the calendar.
Abseits the main event, Audi Development Programme driver Freddie Slater added to the team’s positive weekend by securing a Formula 3 podium, finishing third in the Feature Race after battling for victory until the closing laps. Slater remains firmly in contention for the F3 championship.
Audi Revolut F1 Team and Slater return to action next weekend as Formula 1 heads to Silverstone, the birthplace of the sport, where the team will look to convert its confirmed midfield pace into the championship points that eluded it in Austria.