SINGAPORE, October 9, 2026 — Audi Revolut F1 Team will start Saturday’s Singapore Grand Prix Sprint from the middle of the field after Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto finished 12th and 14th in Friday’s Sprint Qualifying at Marina Bay.
There was little separating the two Audi drivers in SQ2. Hülkenberg recorded a 1:33.420, while Bortoleto’s 1:33.466 left them only 0.046 seconds apart. Neither advanced to SQ3, but the close margins gave Audi reason to believe a stronger result was possible.
Small margins decide Audi’s Friday
Hülkenberg progressed through SQ1 with a 1:34.128 before improving to 1:33.420 in the second segment. His Friday began with only 16 laps in the sole practice session, where he ranked 18th with a 1:34.884.
Bortoleto completed 25 practice laps and placed 16th, recording 1:34.736. In Sprint Qualifying he advanced from SQ1 on a 1:34.690 and found substantially more pace in SQ2, but a snap near the end of his final lap cost valuable time.
The Brazilian described progress in how the car felt during qualifying after a difficult end to practice, but acknowledged that the team had more setup work ahead.
McNish sees a top-ten opportunity
Audi Racing Director Allan McNish pointed to the interruption in SQ1 and a less-than-ideal second SQ2 lap for both drivers as factors in the outcome. He believed the team had enough performance to challenge for a spot in the final ten, even if the result did not show it.
That leaves Audi with two priorities on Saturday: make the most of any opportunity in the Sprint and translate Friday’s lessons into the main Grand Prix qualifying session.
Heat, humidity and two chances to improve
Singapore is one of Formula 1’s toughest physical tests, and the 2026 weekend adds the compressed timetable of the Sprint format. With just one practice session before competitive running, the R26’s balance and tire preparation become especially important.
For Hülkenberg, the immediate job is to turn a solid SQ1 and limited practice mileage into stronger race pace. For Bortoleto, finding a cleaner final sector and continuing the improvements made during qualifying could be decisive.
The weekend continues with Saturday’s Sprint and Grand Prix qualifying before Sunday’s race at Marina Bay. Audi’s one-off Singapore-inspired livery is also on display throughout the weekend.
Reporting based on the Audi Revolut F1 Team October 9, 2026 Friday media release and team timing information. Official media: Audi F1 Content Hub.
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