Gabriel Bortoleto ran Audi’s new aerodynamic package against Nico Hülkenberg’s older specification in FP1. The early data encouraged team principal Mattia Binotto, though both drivers finished outside the top 10 in FP2.
Audi used Thursday’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix practice sessions to begin evaluating its largest R26 update in months. The team listed changes in 14 areas for Baku, including a new front wing and nose, revised front suspension fairings, an updated floor and bodywork, and changes to the rear wing and rear suspension. Together, the revisions are intended to improve how air moves through and around the car and increase aerodynamic load.
Bortoleto ran the new package in FP1 while Hülkenberg drove the older specification, giving Audi a direct comparison as it gathered data. Bortoleto finished 10th, 0.183 seconds ahead of Hülkenberg in 11th. Binotto said the initial data suggested the package was “delivering as expected,” but cautioned that the team had yet to complete a proper performance comparison.
That distinction matters after FP2. Bortoleto slipped to 14th and Hülkenberg was 15th, separated by just 0.060 seconds. Bortoleto said his car lacked grip in the second session and that the team had not yet established why. The result leaves Audi with encouraging early correlation data, but no clear evidence yet of how much lap time the revisions will produce in Baku.
Binotto framed the update as a test of Audi’s development process as well as its pace. Bringing changes across so much of the car challenges the team’s aerodynamic work, manufacturing and delivery times; the next task is to see whether the track data matches its wind tunnel and simulator predictions. Audi enters the weekend eighth in the teams’ standings, four points behind Haas, making any reliable gain useful in its fight for seventh.
SCHEDULE
| DAY/DATE | ACTIVITY | TRACK TIME | CET | EST |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu 24 Sep | Practice 1 | 12:30-13:30 | 09:30-10:30 | 4:30 AM – 5:30 AM |
| Thu 24 Sep | Practice 2 | 16:00-17:00 | 13:00-14:00 | 6:00 AM -7:00 AM |
| Fri 25 Sep | Practice 3 | 12:30-13:30 | 09:30-10:30 | 4:30 AM – 5:30 AM |
| Fri 25 Sep | Qualifying | 16:00-17:00 | 13:00-14:00 | 6:00 AM – 7:00 AM |
| Sat 16 Sep | Grand Prix | 15:00 | 12:00 | 7:00 AM |
R:14 RACE INFORMATION
AUDI REVOLUT F1 | FORMULA 1 SERIES | OFFICIAL BAKU CITY CIRCUIT WEBSITE | GRAND PRIX EVENTS
FREE PRACTICE #1 RESULTS
FULL RESULTS | WATCH BROADCAST
| POS. | NO. | DRIVER | TEAM | TIME/GAP | LAPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:45.387 | 24 |
| 2 | 3 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | +0.400 | 22 |
| 3 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | +0.404 | 25 |
| 4 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | +0.437 | 25 |
| 5 | 12 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | +0.878 | 9 |
| 6 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | +1.011 | 17 |
| 7 | 30 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | +1.053 | 26 |
| 8 | 41 | Arvid Lindblad | Racing Bulls | +1.214 | 23 |
| 9 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Haas | +1.237 | 19 |
| 10 | 5 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Audi | +1.301 | 21 |
| 11 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Audi | +1.484 | 22 |
FREE PRACTICE #2 RESULTS
FULL RESULTS | WATCH BROADCAST
| POS. | NO. | DRIVER | TEAM | TIME/GAP | LAPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:43.347 | 24 |
| 2 | 12 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | +0.552 | 16 |
| 3 | 3 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | +0.827 | 23 |
| 4 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | +1.126 | 24 |
| 5 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | +1.318 | 23 |
| 6 | 1 | Lando Norris | McLaren | +1.484 | 22 |
| 7 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | +1.496 | 23 |
| 8 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | +1.510 | 22 |
| 9 | 6 | Isack Hadjar | Red Bull | +1.521 | 21 |
| 10 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Haas | +1.943 | 25 |
| – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 14 | 5 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Audi | +2.447 | 24 |
| 15 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Audi | +2.507 | 20 |
TEAM QUOTES
Nico Hulkenberg, Car #27
FP1: 11th / 1:46.871 (22 laps)
FP2: 15th / 1:45.854 (20 laps)
“Overall, it was a reasonable Friday. I ran the previous specification in FP1 before switching to the new parts for FP2, so there was plenty of information to gather and a lot for us to understand. The sessions were not entirely straightforward, with a few challenges to work through, but the underlying picture is encouraging. Now it’s about going through everything overnight, cleaning up a few areas and seeing how we can put it all together tomorrow. If we do that, I think we can be competitive.”
Gabriel Bortoleto, Car #5
FP1: 10th / 1:46.688 (21 laps)
FP2: 14th / 1:45.794 (24 laps)
“It’s been a bit of a test day for us with the new package, and we have plenty of data to analyse to get the general picture of it. We are lacking a little bit of grip at the moment, but Baku is a low-grip and very dusty circuit, so we have some work to do to put everything in place. Let’s see what we can do tomorrow from here.”
PHOTO GALLERY
