Audi Boss Jonathan Wheatley Hails Points on F1 Debut, Predicts Midfield Shake-Up
After scoring points on its Formula 1 debut, Audi team principal Jonathan Wheatley has predicted that the midfield order could shift from race to race.
At the Australian Grand Prix, Gabriel Bortoleto secured ninth place, finishing just behind Arvid Lindblad’s Racing Bulls in P8. The result marked Audi’s first points in F1, a milestone for the German manufacturer following its takeover of the former Sauber team.
Alongside the debut of its new R26 chassis, Audi also introduced its brand-new power unit. Despite keeping a low profile through pre-season testing, the team impressed in qualifying, with Bortoleto in P10 ahead of Nico Hülkenberg in P11.
However, Hülkenberg was unable to start the race due to a technical issue that cut telemetry during reconnaissance laps. Audi has since confirmed the problem has been identified and resolved.
Bortoleto delivered a combative drive to score ninth, prompting Wheatley to express his delight.
“We spent the winter focusing on ourselves, not analysing other teams. We just wanted a clean race weekend,” Wheatley told PlanetF1.com.
“If someone had offered me P9 before the race, I would have taken it in a heartbeat. It’s a historic moment—an Audi F1 car scoring points in its first-ever race.”
Bortoleto admitted he found the race “crazy” and was still learning the regulations, even performing an overtake “by mistake” while managing his energy.
Wheatley emphasized that the new technical regulations will mean teams are still in the early stages of optimisation.
“Every team is at the very beginning of this set of regulations. The sophistication of the cars will evolve dramatically over the next few years. The engines will become more efficient, racing will get closer, and the midfield could look very different from one track to the next.”
Regarding Bortoleto’s attempt to pass Lindblad, Wheatley joked:
“Ask him! The performance comes down to engine efficiency—how well energy is harvested and deployed. Over time, all teams will find their rhythm.”
With Audi finishing at the upper end of the midfield in Australia, Wheatley believes the pecking order will remain fluid from track to track.
“It’s a world championship. Every circuit presents different challenges. The midfield is closer than many expected, and every race could shake up the order. That’s part of the excitement of these new regulations.”
Audi’s debut performance suggests the team is ready to develop aggressively throughout the season, aiming to keep pace with the upper midfield and beyond.
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