Audi F1 driver Nico Hulkenberg says the team knows the direction to take for the F1 2026 season after a muted showing in last week\u2019s Barcelona shakedown.<\/p>\n
It comes after Audi boss Mattia Binotto admitted the team was left with a \u201cvery, very long list\u201d of issues to resolve at the end of the first test of F1 2026.<\/p>\n
Nico Hulkenberg: Audi F1 knows \u2018the direction\u2019 to take with R26<\/p>\n
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Add us as a preferred source on Google<\/a> to your favourites list for news you can trust<\/p>\n Audi is preparing for its first season in F1 after completing its rebrand of the Sauber team over the winter.<\/p>\n Despite its major overhaul \u2013 including a switch from customer Ferrari engines to its own Audi F1 power unit \u2013 the German manufacturer was the first team to hit the track with its 2026 car on January 9.<\/p>\n Audi returned to Barcelona for last week\u2019s five-day shakedown, but endured a troubled test at the former Spanish Grand Prix venue.<\/p>\n As reported by PlanetF1.com<\/a>, only Cadillac and Aston Martin completed fewer laps than Audi\u2019s 240.<\/p>\n Analysis: What we learned from the first F1 2026 pre-season test in Barcelona<\/p>\n Shakedown conclusions: Mercedes back in the light, Red Bull finds peace, key Newey question<\/a><\/p>\n Winners and losers from the Barcelona testing shakedown (Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya)<\/a><\/p>\n Gabriel Bortoleto suffered what the team confirmed was a \u201ctechnical issue\u201d on the opening morning<\/a>, ruling the Brazilian driver out for the rest of the day.<\/p>\n Through it all, however, there are positives.<\/p>\n In a post to social media, Hulkenberg revealed that the Barcelona shakedown has determined the path Audi must take ahead of the remaining two tests in Bahrain next month.<\/p>\n \u201cShakedown week in Barcelona done. We know the direction. Plenty of work ahead,\u201d Hulkenberg wrote<\/p>\n Binotto, the former Ferrari team principal, was appointed to the dual role of chief operating and technical officer of the Audi F1 project in the summer of 2024.<\/p>\n The team went on to appoint Jonathan Wheatley, the former Red Bull sporting director, as the first-ever Audi F1 team principal.<\/p>\n Speaking on the final day of the test, Binotto admitted that he has \u201cnever seen such a long list\u201d of problems to solve after the Barcelona shakedown.<\/p>\n Asked about the team\u2019s plan ahead of Bahrain testing, he told Formula 1: \u201cIt\u2019s a lot of work. It\u2019s a lot of work for the entire team.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a lot of work for the drivers, for the engineers back at home, fixing all the problems \u2013 design, operational, whatever we have seen.<\/p>\n \u201cSo it\u2019s really, for us, no stones unturned. All the details need to be somehow managed and need to be fixed.<\/p>\n \u201cSo we\u2019ve got a very long list \u2013 a very, very long list. I\u2019ve never seen such a long list.<\/p>\n \u201cBut again, I think it\u2019s great because the team is really committed, willing to to improve and somehow come to Bahrain in a better shape.\u201d<\/p>\n Reflecting on Audi\u2019s first F1 test overall, Binotto insisted that the team is doing well considering it is at the very beginning of its F1 adventure.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cFirst I think emotional, because it\u2019s the very first official testing for Audi in F1.<\/p>\n \u201cFor us it\u2019s the beginning of our experience as a team, as a power unit manufacturer, and I would sum up that there is a lot to learn and we are learning a lot.<\/p>\n \u201cSo if you look at the very first day, a lot of problems stopping us, slowing down the run plan as well.<\/p>\n \u201cSome good running again [on day three].<\/p>\n \u201cThis morning, a few problems again, learning, but still some mileage done, some laps done, and obviously valuable data gathered for the team.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd the more we will run, the more we learn and I think we\u2019re really at that stage.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s great. We are all very, very happy.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a fantastic project as we all believe it\u2019s a project. We are all committed, but we know as well that there is for us a lot to build, a lot to grow.<\/p>\n \u201cBut again, these three days of running have been very, very important.<\/p>\n \u201cI think we are doing well somehow for where we are in our journey.<\/p>\n \u201cThe reliability is always very critical, but we had several problems. Small ones, not dramatic.<\/p>\n \u201cI think here again there is a lot of positives and looking forward.\u201d<\/p>\n Asked what Hulkenberg and Bortoleto were saying to the team as the test unfolded, Binotto added that the latter was anxious to get some mileage under his belt following his stoppage on the opening day.<\/p>\n Bortoleto returned to the cockpit of the R26 on the final day and completed a further 66 laps, with Binotto declaring his running \u201cvery important\u201d ahead of pre-Bahrain simulator sessions.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cI think that Gabi is somehow happy after the running this morning.<\/p>\n \u201cHe couldn\u2019t run well on the first day. Very little mileage.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was very anxious to have some experience on track to understand the car, the energy management, the power unit, drivability and all those matters.<\/p>\n \u201cHe is happy today that he could put some laps into the session.<\/p>\n \u201cFor me, that\u2019s very important because now he can be back as well at the simulator with some experience, correlating what he has felt here on track compared to simulator itself, and preparing ourselves in a better manner as well for next events in Bahrain.\u201d<\/p>\n Want to be the first to know exclusive information from the F1 paddock? Join our broadcast channel on WhatsApp<\/a> to get the scoop on the latest developments from our team of accredited journalists.<\/p>\n You can also subscribe to the PlanetF1 YouTube channel<\/a> for exclusive features, hear from our paddock journalists with stories from the heart of Formula 1 and much more!<\/p>\n