News Summary
- Gabriel Bortoleto says Audi’s upgrade has worked as expected, despite doubts after its difficult Azerbaijan GP.
- The Brazilian reports improvements at corner entry, mid-corner and exit, although the midfield competition has intensified.
- Bortoleto expects Singapore to suit Audi better than Baku after reaching Q3 at Sepang.
Gabriel Bortoleto has confirmed that Audi’s latest Formula 1 upgrade delivered the improvements the team expected, ending the uncertainty that followed its difficult introduction at the Azerbaijan GP.
The German manufacturer struggled to demonstrate the package’s potential at Baku, but its performance improved at Sepang, where Bortoleto qualified inside the top 10. Ahead of the Singapore GP, the Brazilian said the team now has enough information to establish that the update worked.
“We concluded it worked. It worked pretty OK, like we expected,” Bortoleto said during Thursday’s FIA press conference.
Audi found improvements throughout the corners
Asked which areas of the car had improved since Baku, Bortoleto identified virtually every phase of cornering.
“Entry, mid, exit of all the corners! I think we made a good step a bit everywhere,” he explained.
The Brazilian acknowledged that the initial performance in Azerbaijan had raised doubts about the package, particularly because Audi had not immediately translated its development work into competitive results.
“I think there were a lot of doubts after Baku, because we had a tough weekend, about the package and if it worked or not. And I think now we can finally put a dot on this and say that we are sure that it worked as expected and that things are working in the right way.”
Bortoleto considers Azerbaijan an exception rather than evidence of a fundamental problem with the update. However, he also noted that rival teams have improved, reducing the cornering advantage Audi previously enjoyed.
Singapore offers another opportunity for Audi
Audi’s performance at Sepang provided encouragement, but Singapore presents a different challenge. Marina Bay combines repeated slow-speed corners with heavy braking and traction demands, potentially allowing the team to exploit the gains Bortoleto identified.
Asked whether Audi could perform better than it did on the streets of Baku, Bortoleto replied that he expected the problems encountered in Azerbaijan not to return.
The sprint format adds uncertainty because teams have only one practice session before competitive running begins. Bortoleto also noted that the new power-unit regulations have made the limited preparation particularly challenging.
Audi therefore arrives in Singapore with greater confidence in its aerodynamic package, although Bortoleto expects the increasingly competitive midfield to make another top-10 result difficult.
The Singapore GP weekend begins with FP1 and sprint qualifying on Friday.
GRANDE PRÊMIO follows the latest Formula 1 news throughout the 2026 season.
F1 today: FAQ
What time is the 2026 Singapore GP?
The Singapore GP starts at 20:00 local time on Sunday, October 11. That is 13:00 in the UK, 08:00 ET in the US and Canada and 17:30 in India. Singapore is a sprint weekend, with sprint qualifying on Friday and the sprint on Saturday.
Why does George Russell have a grid penalty in Singapore?
Russell has exhausted his permitted allocation of four engines after suffering a power-unit failure at Sepang. Mercedes must introduce another unit, triggering a grid penalty for Sunday’s Grand Prix. The penalty does not apply to Saturday’s sprint.
Can Kimi Antonelli win the F1 championship in Singapore?
No. Antonelli leads Russell by 84 points, 320 to 236, but cannot mathematically secure the 2026 title in Singapore. His first opportunity to become world champion comes at the United States GP in Austin.
Did Audi’s F1 upgrade work in 2026?
According to Gabriel Bortoleto, yes. Audi’s latest package delivered the expected improvements, particularly through corner entry, mid-corner and exit.
