P1racenews AI automatic summary:
The doomsday scenario that had hung over Audi’s F1 test debut has been avoided. But it still needs a big third day of running for the Barcelona shakedown to go down as a success
Audi successfully avoided a doomsday scenario during its Formula 1 test debut as the car halted early on Wednesday, with hopes pinned on a smooth final test day in Barcelona for a successful shakedown.
The buzz around Audi’s readiness fizzled as they cut the first day short after just 27 laps due to precautionary measures, denting the initial sheen.
Despite early setbacks, a false alarm on Wednesday when the car experienced a hydraulic leak near Turns 9 and 10 heralded a more productive day for driver Nico Hulkenberg.
Hulkenberg’s 68 laps on the second day brought Audi’s total to nearly 100, marking progress in gaining valuable track data for the power unit and gearbox.
While Audi’s mileage remains lower than some competitors, the team is focusing on crucial tasks before performance optimization becomes the priority later in the testing phase.
