As Formula 1 kicks off the European leg of its calendar in the historic streets of Monte Carlo for the 2026 F1 Monaco GP, Audi duo Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hülkenberg look ahead to conquering the tight streets of Monaco while continuing their pursuit of victory in a tight midfield battle.
After being an arm’s length away from scoring any points at the Canadian GP, Hülkenberg and Bortoleto ended their stint at 12th and 13th, respectively. Audi is on the run to begin its first race in Europe with the hopes of a clean weekend and the inauguration of their newest hospitality unit.
McNish on Audi’s continued momentum ahead of Monaco GP
Racing Director Allan McNish emphasized that as Audi approaches the 2026 F1 Monaco GP, their goals remain unchanged: maintaining reliability, enhancing performance, and ensuring precise execution. These objectives are particularly important given the challenging and narrow layout of the upcoming track.
“Every race we complete is a step forward – we are still a young team and there is a lot of work we have to do in every aspect, from performance, to reliability, to operations. Our main objective this weekend is to keep building up in what is one of the most demanding weekends of the year. Monaco is a unique challenge, of course: it requires complete confidence from team and drivers from the first lap onwards. It will be another opportunity for us to keep learning, keep improving and continue moving in the right direction as a team.”
The newly established Audi F1 Team has encountered a fair share of surprises since the beginning of the season. However, the Monaco Grand Prix brings forth a special sense of satisfaction. It not only marks the return of Formula 3, with the Audi Development Driver Freddie Slater resuming his racing duties, but also the launch of the team’s latest European Hospitality unit for its sponsors and guests.
“This race also marks the start of the European season, with our new team hospitality making its debut in the paddock this weekend. A lot of work has gone into that, and we are all looking forward to experiencing it.”
Hülkenberg shares that there is no room for errors during the Monaco GP
Audi driver Nico Hülkenberg is more than delighted to race on the streets of Monte Carlo once again; however, the German remains hyperaware of the challenges that arise on this demanding track. The ability to have a minor slip-up can prove costly later on for drivers — a facet Hülkenberg believes would be a hassle to rectify during the Grand Prix.
“Monaco is probably the most iconic race weekend on the calendar, on and off the track. For me, it’s also a bit of a home race, having my family and friends around makes it truly special. The challenge here is unique: you need to find your rhythm from the very first lap, because there’s no room for error and no real opportunity to make up for mistakes. The midfield is extremely close, so nailing qualifying will be crucial. Monaco can surprise you but that’s exactly what makes it so special.”
Bortoleto in high spirits as Audi aims to make the most out of Monaco weekend
Gabriel Bortoleto looks forward to tackling the historic streets of the Monaco Circuit. The Brazilian addressed that it’s a track that every driver aspires to perform their finest at, and that would be the exact approach that Audi would be carrying into their weekend.
Bortoleto shared that Audi’s focus will be on having a clean weekend that will help push him and his teammate into creating a memorable weekend for the team.
“I’m really looking forward to racing in Monaco again. It’s one of those circuits every driver wants to do well at, for the history and the driving challenge it represents, and the atmosphere is always special. The spirits within the team remain high and it’s something we can build on for this event. Monaco is all about confidence, precision and getting everything right across the weekend, so we’ll be focused on putting together a clean run of sessions and making the most of every opportunity.”
