Audi’s F1 drivers Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto have shared their first thoughts after the German manufacturer’s car hit the track for the first time.
The R26 took to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya earlier this week as Audi performed an initial shakedown of the car.
Teams are allowed to do a maximum of 200km of running with a car outside official sessions with current machinery, with Audi allocating their reserved time to the initial shakedown.
It gave Audi an opportunity to check the car’s systems and assess its power unit, which has been built from scratch as part of a new regulation cycle.
Audi enter the year after taking over Sauber, with Hulkenberg and Bortoleto forming its line-up.
The duo were paired together last season at Sauber and enjoyed a healthy relationship – one that Audi hopes will continue this year.
Both drivers took to social media on Friday after the test run to express their delight over how the day unfolded.
See the posts below!