Following the 2026 F1 Chinese GP, Audi’s Nico Hülkenberg believes there is clear potential to fight in the midfield after narrowly missing out on points in Sunday’s race, finishing 11th. After missing Q3 by just 0.002s and suffering a DNF in the Sprint, the German driver remains in search of his first points of the season.
While Audi has shown promising pace and the potential for strong midfield results, the team now enters a new chapter following the immediate departure of Jonathan Wheatley from his team principal role, with Mattia Binoto stepping in to take the reins. Looking ahead to the 2026 F1 Japanese GP, Hülkenberg acknowledged that while there’s still work to do, Audi is not alone in the paddock in chasing further improvements.
“We’re not the only ones with homework to do” says Hülkenberg as Audi looks to find improvements
Speaking in the print media zone after the race, Hülkenberg said: “Well you know a lot of work ahead, a lot of work to do but you know look up and down the pit lane everyone has problems, you know cars breaking down, not making it to the line. So you know we’re not the only ones with homework to do.
“I think the potential is there to fight the midfield but obviously we need better starts, it’s you know a fundamental thing. And then the rest, I think our strategy with you know starting on the hard and then having a safety car earlier, I think you know obviously that kind of, yeah definitely didn’t help our strategy today.”
While strategy and how the race unfolded didn’t fall in their favour, the 38 year-old believes that refining minor details and improving race execution could soon put them in contention for points.
“And obviously we had a quite a slow pit stop which put us even further back so we just need to you know go, and yeah clean up a few things and you know just general progression and our verdict all in all is you know it’s all to play for.”
Right for F1 to step aside as Middle East conflict continues
Amid the ongoing conflict and uncertainty in the Middle East, the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian GP has created a one-month gap between the Japanese and Miami GP. When asked for his view on the break, Hülkenberg kept his response simple, noting that there are far more important issues in the world than Formula 1.
He said: “I don’t know, it is what it is you know, obviously we all I think see and understand the reasons. I think obviously the safety of everyone is the most important, and at this point in time if it can be you know guaranteed I think then there is you know bigger things in the world going on, where our sport has to obviously move to the side.”
