The head of the Audi F1 team, Jonathan Wheatley, has acknowledged that the recent China GP “has exposed our weaknesses” in terms of reliability and engine performance of their vehicles. This race has been a significant challenge for the new brand in its first season as an F1 team.
Audi, which made its debut as an official team in Melbourne, surprised with an initially competitive performance, positioning itself in the middle of the grid. However, the Shanghai circuit highlighted serious reliability issues that prevented Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto from participating in the first two races, respectively.
Specifically, Bortoleto had to be pushed back to the garage before the race due to a technical problem, leaving Hulkenberg as the only representative of the team. This race marked Hulkenberg’s debut after being unable to compete in Melbourne, and it revealed further areas for improvement, such as a slow start and general driving difficulties.
Wheatley, in his post-race analysis, noted that Shanghai highlighted the areas needing immediate attention. “It is very disappointing. Once again, we had only one car to start the race. We apologize to Gabriel for this. We need to focus on the reliability of our vehicle,” he commented.
Moreover, Wheatley acknowledged that the circuit required the drivers to manage engine issues, a task that is not always straightforward. Observing the competition, he pointed out that teams like Mercedes and Ferrari have more reliable and easier-to-manage packages.
Audi is working to qualify for the innovative Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO) system, which allows manufacturers with below-average performance to develop their engines every six races. Although the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia races may delay this process, the team continues with its improvement strategies.
Wheatley concluded by stating that Audi’s immediate goal is to become a competitor capable of fighting with the fastest, as well as advancing in the evolution of its engine in the near future. “We are learning at an incredible pace. Hopes are high for the coming weeks,” he finished.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
