Following the launch of the R26 livery, Audi F1 drivers Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hülkenberg looked ahead to 2026.
In a Haas pre-season Q&A yesterday, Esteban Ocon talked about the reset drivers are set to face this year. He feels everything learned since karting can be dumped such is the changes to the cars and style of racing.
“I think we can forget everything that we’ve learned since go-karts on how to go fast, but it will be interesting to learn a new driving style and hopefully find speed with it.
“This is definitely the biggest rule change I’ve ever faced. The first time I drove a Formula 1 car was in the V8 era, then we went to a hybrid system, where I drove one day in Valencia back then and went to Abu Dhabi for FP1. It was probably a similar change to what we’ll face now, but as I said, we need to forget everything that has happened before.”
Gabriel Bortoleto does not agree with the comments from Esteban Ocon
The 21-year-old Brazilian driver was asked by Sky Sports about the comments from the French driver who competes for Haas.
The team ran the R26 in Barcelona earlier this month on January 9th for a filming day. So both Bortoleto and Hülkenberg have a bit of experience driving the 2026 Audi F1 car.
Giving his opinion on the 2021 Hungarian GP winner’s analysis, the 2025 rookie respectfully disagreed as it ultimately is a racing car once again.
“No, I don’t think so. It is my opinion.
“I hope for them it is, because it means that something is very wrong.
“But, to be honest, I mean, I can say for myself, the laps I did, they felt it’s still a racing car. Obviously it’s a different way of driving, a different way of managing things, probably in the race, with energy management and everything.
“But yeah, you still need to drive fast and go for it.”
Time needed for Audi F1 to get towards the sharp end
As head of their F1 project Mattia Binotto has stated many times, the team are not expecting to start challenging for championships until 2030. Audi will have a nice blend of youth and experience in 2026 as Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto will form a strong line-up.
The veteran German driver is fully aware of the massive task ahead as the team makes their first F1 car and engine for the season ahead.
“Yeah, of course [it will take time to be very competitive].
“We build an engine for the first time, so a new power unit, new engine, new gearbox, so there’s a lot of new components.
“And everybody who understands a bit of automotive and engineering stuff, knows how challenging that is, to bring it on the road, to make it reliable, to make it smooth in terms of drivability, and all these things.
“We’re starting now, everyone is very excited, to put the car on track and to start learning about it.”
