P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Audi F1 drivers Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto have reacted to the team’s first on-track appearance in a shakedown on Friday.
Audi Formula 1 drivers, Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto, expressed their reactions to the team’s inaugural on-track appearance during a shakedown on Friday, following the German marque’s acquisition of the Sauber entry. They were the first among the 11 teams to test an early version of their R26 on the Circuit de-Barcelona Catalunya, utilizing their 200km track allowance after firing up the engine on December 19. Both drivers, Hulkenberg and Bortoleto, shared their excitement on social media about their first experience driving the R26, with Hulkenberg praising Audi F1’s efforts and Bortoleto expressing joy in starting the journey. The team, led by Jonathan Wheatley, marked the occasion as the beginning of the road ahead, highlighting the significance of the R26 hitting the track for the very first time.
In January, Audi will have a busy schedule, with the first pre-season testing set for January 26 at the same Circuit de Barcelona Catalunya, following the official launch in Berlin just six days earlier. Additionally, a meeting between F1 manufacturers and the FIA will take place two days after the testing session, aimed at addressing a potential anomaly in the new rulebook allegedly exploited by Mercedes and Red Bull. Overall, the team and drivers are looking forward to a promising start to the season, as they continue to make strides in the competitive world of Formula 1.
