News Summary

Audi will introduce its first substantial Formula 1 upgrade since June at the Azerbaijan GP as the German manufacturer attempts to recover ground in an increasingly competitive midfield battle.

The R26 has received only minor adjustments since the package introduced at the Austrian GP. Alpine’s recent progress, however, has increased the pressure on Audi to respond as Racing Bulls, Haas and the French team fight over the positions behind F1’s leading group.

Racing director Allan McNish confirmed that new components would arrive in Baku but avoided revealing their scale or technical focus. The Scot said Audi needed to maintain its development rate after rival teams improved different areas of their cars.

The package is expected to focus on the chassis rather than the power unit. Audi has already indicated that its next major engine development step will not arrive until 2027, making aerodynamic and mechanical improvements particularly important during the closing phase of its debut season.

Gabriel Bortoleto described the new parts as interesting and hopes they will allow Audi to challenge Alpine and Racing Bulls more consistently. The team scored points in five of the seven races following its Austrian upgrade, but its recent qualifying performance has left both drivers vulnerable in the congested midfield.

Audi also missed out on points at Monza after Bortoleto and Hülkenberg lost positions at the start. The team has identified its launch performance as another area requiring improvement, although Bortoleto suggested a solution could still take several races.

Baku may hide Audi upgrade’s real value

Hülkenberg has adopted a more cautious position ahead of the package’s debut. The German does not expect Baku to provide an immediate or definitive indication of how much performance Audi has gained.

The Azerbaijan street circuit combines slow, technical corners around the Old City with a flat-out final sector and one of the longest straights on the calendar. That places considerable emphasis on aerodynamic efficiency and power-unit performance—an area in which Audi has remained vulnerable during 2026.

Hülkenberg believes the update could produce clearer results at Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, where the circuit characteristics should provide a more representative test of the R26’s revised specification.

That caution is consistent with Audi’s assessment before the weekend. McNish has already acknowledged that the car should be competitive through Baku’s corners but may lose time along the extended full-throttle section. Audi also expects the Azerbaijan-Malaysia-Singapore triple-header to place significant pressure on the team.

Audi currently occupies eighth place in the Constructors’ Championship, four points behind Haas. Reliability problems during the opening races limited its scoring opportunities, although improved engine drivability and the Austrian chassis package helped establish the team as a more regular points contender.

The Azerbaijan GP begins the final development test for a package Audi hopes can keep the R26 competitive across contrasting circuits. Baku may offer the first evidence, but Hülkenberg expects the verdict to come later.

The 2026 Azerbaijan GP will be held on Saturday, with the entire weekend taking place one day earlier than F1’s conventional schedule. GRANDE PRÊMIO follows all the latest developments through its Formula 1 coverage.

F1 today: FAQ

What time is Singapore GP sprint qualifying today?

Sprint qualifying starts at 20:30 Singapore time on Friday, October 9, equivalent to 13:30 BST in the UK, 08:30 ET in the United States and Canada, and 18:00 IST in India. The session determines the starting grid for Saturday’s sprint.

Who was fastest in Singapore GP FP1?

George Russell topped FP1 with a 1:32.274, driving Mercedes’ older W17 aerodynamic specification. Charles Leclerc finished second, 0.198s behind, followed by Lando Norris in third. Kimi Antonelli was seventh with the upgraded Mercedes, while Gabriel Bortoleto finished 16th.

Why is George Russell using the old Mercedes at the Singapore GP?

Mercedes is comparing its previous W17 specification with the aerodynamic upgrade introduced at Sepang. Russell is using the older package, while championship leader Kimi Antonelli retains the new version. Russell led FP1, but differences in tyre compounds and run programmes mean the result alone does not establish which specification is faster.

What upgrade is Audi bringing to the Azerbaijan GP?

Audi has confirmed a new development package for the R26 but has not disclosed which specific components will change.