- Hulkenberg finished 11th at Sepang.
- Early switch to intermediate tyres.
- Bortoleto damaged floor and front wing.
- Bortoleto received a 10-second penalty.
- Singapore Grand Prix follows next week.
The Audi Revolut F1 Team came close to a points finish at the Grand Prix held at the Sepang International Circuit, where monsoon downpours before the start forced a tyre gamble. Nico Hulkenberg crossed the line in 11th after losing a points position on the final lap, while Gabriel Bortoleto finished the race with a damaged car. For South African followers of Audi’s Formula 1 programme, the result marks a second consecutive race in which the team missed the top 10 on the last lap.
Audi tyre call at the restart
Torrential rain delayed track action, and teams faced a tyre-strategy choice at the restart. At the end of the formation lap, the Audi pit wall brought both cars in to swap dry tyres for intermediates, a move that took Hulkenberg and Bortoleto up the order as the grip suited the conditions.
Racing Director Allan McNish said the conditions were at the crossover point between tyres. “Already from the formation lap, it became clear to us that the intermediates were the correct choice, so we made the change and were able to recover to roughly the position we had been in before stopping for slicks on lap eight,” he said.
Hulkenberg loses point on final lap
Hulkenberg used the R26’s race pace to work through wheel-to-wheel battles and ran as high as ninth in the closing laps. A final safety-car restart reopened the race, and on worn tyres he was passed by Lindblad on the last lap, finishing 11th.
“Realistically, we only got into that position because of trouble to the cars ahead, so it was always going to be a long shot,” Hulkenberg said, adding that his race was clean and the team had gained many learnings.
Bortoleto damage and time penalty
Bortoleto made contact with Carlos Sainz at the restart, damaging the floor and front wing of his R26. The damage required an extra pit stop and cost downforce, and he also received a 10-second penalty, which McNish said effectively took him out of the fight for points. The Brazilian apologised to Sainz and brought the car to the chequered flag.
Audi Revolut F1 Team heads to Singapore
The team says the underlying pace of the R26 package continues to improve despite the classification. The Audi Revolut F1 Team next contests the Singapore Grand Prix next week, the final leg of the Asian triple-header.
Supplied by MotorPress (Faith Sikosana, Communications & Relationships Manager, Audi South Africa)
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