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Audi\u2019s first major Formula 1 upgrade since June produced an inconclusive opening day at the Azerbaijan GP, with Gabriel Bortoleto admitting the team could not explain its loss of grip during FP2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bortoleto began the weekend positively, placing tenth in FP1 with a 1:46.688. The Brazilian used Audi\u2019s revised package during the opening session, while Nico H\u00fclkenberg ran the previous specification to provide a direct comparison.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first result appeared encouraging. Bortoleto finished 0.183s ahead of H\u00fclkenberg<\/strong>, who placed 11th, but the difference was too small to establish how much of the advantage came from the new components.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Audi\u2019s position deteriorated in FP2. Bortoleto improved to 1:45.794 but fell to 14th, while H\u00fclkenberg finished immediately behind him with a 1:45.854.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The two Audi drivers were separated by only 0.060s<\/strong>, suggesting that the upgrade had not yet produced a clear performance step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The positions alone do not provide the complete answer. Bortoleto improved his personal best by 0.894s<\/strong> between the two sessions, but the leading teams made considerably greater progress as the circuit evolved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n His deficit to George Russell consequently increased from 1.301s in FP1 to 2.447s in FP2<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That represents a relative loss of 1.146s<\/strong>, despite Bortoleto recording a faster lap. The drop therefore reflected Audi\u2019s development compared with its rivals rather than an absolute decline in lap time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Speaking after FP2 in a media session attended by GRANDE PR\u00caMIO<\/strong> in Baku, Bortoleto said the R26 lacked grip and balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTo be honest, I don\u2019t think the car was very good in FP2,\u201d Bortoleto said. \u201cWe are lacking a little grip, and I still don\u2019t know why.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Audi deliberately divided the specifications between its drivers during FP1. Bortoleto explained that H\u00fclkenberg had received the new package first when the team introduced its previous major development in Austria, so the roles were reversed in Azerbaijan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat is why we always split the cars,\u201d he said. \u201cWith the previous upgrade, I didn\u2019t start the weekend with it. Now it was Nico\u2019s turn. We try to do this to have a clear view of whether it worked.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhy did Bortoleto fall from tenth to 14th?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Session<\/th> Position<\/th> Time<\/th> Gap to leader<\/th> Laps<\/th><\/tr> FP1<\/td> 10th<\/td> 1:46.688<\/td> +1.301s<\/td> 21<\/td><\/tr> FP2<\/td> 14th<\/td> 1:45.794<\/td> +2.447s<\/td> 24<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Audi has not reached a verdict on its upgrade<\/h2>\n\n\n\n