What the teams said after the Barcelona Shakedown

Audi

Ahead of the team’s first season under their new name – following their transition from the former Kick Sauber outfit – Audi took to the track on Day 1 of the Barcelona Shakedown with Bortoleto. They returned to action on Day 3 as Hulkenberg got his turn in the R26, before the two drivers completed Audi’s programme between them during Day 5.

Nico Hulkenberg

“Today was definitely our best day of the week – over 140 laps over both sessions. This gave us great mileage across all systems. This kind of running is really valuable at this stage, and we’ve taken away a lot of lessons that we’ll now review. With a new power unit and a lot of firsts, we expected a few bumps on the road and we worked through them well. There’s still a long way to go, but we’re making progress every day, learning and improving step by step. The team has done a great job, working hard and pulling in the same direction. Now it’s about going through all the data, a couple of sim and factory days, getting ready for Bahrain. Quick turnaround, but looking forward to being back in the car.”

Gabriel Bortoleto

“Overall, it’s been a positive day of running on top of an encouraging testing week. Getting some solid laps in was a big step for me today, which shows the step forward we made from Day 1, when we had technical problems that cost us quite a bit of time. That’s what shakedown is about after all: putting the car on track, building mileage, and uncovering the small issues so that we can fix them and understand our car better. The team did a great job getting through the programme, and we are clearly moving in the right direction. Now, the focus shifts back to the factory to work on correlation and prepare for two weeks in Bahrain, where conditions will be completely different. There is still something to learn and improve, but this has been a strong starting point to build from.”

Jonathan Wheatley, Team Principal

“After three meaningful days of running in Barcelona, I find myself pleased with the level of progress we’ve made this week as a team. This shakedown wasn’t just about running the car – it was also about putting our entire trackside operation to the test and integrating our chassis and powertrain personnel into one cohesive team. From reliability to logistics, operational procedures to pit equipment, everything was under scrutiny. Both drivers spent time in the R26 and their feedback will be invaluable in shaping future car development. We’ve encountered a few early challenges, but the way the team came together to find solutions has been impressive. It is exactly why these tests exist – to push ourselves and grow stronger – not just operationally, but as a team. We leave here with a focus on being in the best possible shape for the Bahrain test. With six more days of testing ahead, and the opportunity to present the car on track to the public for the first time, there’s a real sense of momentum and anticipation. On a personal level, I want to thank everyone at the track, in Hinwil, Neuberg and Bicester for the enormous effort over the past weeks. This week was a critical milestone on our journey as a team, and we can be proud of the progress we have made together.”

Mattia Binotto, Head of Audi F1 Project

“This shakedown week marked the beginning of our journey as Audi Revolut F1 Team and as a power unit manufacturer. Seeing the R26 hit the track for the first time on Day 1 was an emotional moment for all of us. There is still much to learn, but we leave Barcelona having gained a solid understanding of our new car and engine, and how they behave on track. The first day brought some challenges that slightly affected our running plans, but step by step we managed to get more laps, build mileage, and collect valuable data. The more we run, the more we learn, and the better feedback we can provide. Even though we know there is still room to grow and develop, this is a fantastic project and everyone is fully committed to it. Both drivers were able to put laps on the car, becoming familiar with the power unit, energy management, and drivability, and providing crucial feedback. We leave with a long list of items to work on, but that is a positive: it shows the team’s dedication and focus. I want to thank the whole team – trackside and back in Hinwil, Neuburg, and Bicester – for their effort, commitment, and motivation over these days. Now, we take what we have learned and push forward, aiming to make even more progress in Bahrain.”

James Key, Technical Director

“Barcelona marked a significant step in our development journey as we ran the car through its first full test programme. We came here knowing it wouldn’t be a flawless week – there were still many firsts for us, with a brand-new car and power unit package, and extensive collaboration between Neuburg and Hinwil. As expected, we faced some early challenges, which is completely normal at this stage. They were all well understood and fixable. That said, we made clear and consistent progress as the week went on, and by the second half of the test, we were able to run more productively and begin extracting meaningful insights. This test was never about performance – it was about validating the fundamentals and ensuring our core systems are functioning reliably. In that regard, we’ve made good progress and now have a solid foundation to build on heading into Bahrain. Every lap completed is a step forward, and the work from both the trackside team and our colleagues in Neuburg and Hinwil has been instrumental in moving us forward. Well done to the entire team for their efforts this week.”