Nico Hülkenberg delivered Audi’s strongest result of the Singapore Grand Prix weekend on Sunday, converting 10th on the grid into an eighth-place finish after a tense late-race defense against Mercedes driver George Russell.
Under the lights at Marina Bay, Hülkenberg gained ground on the opening lap and settled into a race built around tire management. Audi started him on a new set of medium tires before switching to new softs on lap 30. The strategy kept him in the fight for points, but the decisive work came in the closing laps as Russell applied sustained pressure.
Hülkenberg held the position to the flag, scoring four points in the Grand Prix. Combined with the two points Audi earned in Saturday’s Sprint, the team left Singapore with six points from the weekend.
Audi’s championship push gains momentum
According to the team’s official post-race release, the Singapore haul lifts Audi to 23 points and reduces its gap to seventh place in the constructors’ standings to seven points. It was also the first weekend in which the team scored in both the Sprint and the main Grand Prix.
Hülkenberg’s race combined pace with restraint. His fastest lap was a 1:37.055 on lap 60, but the result was less about a single lap and more about staying composed while Russell closed in. Audi Racing Director Allan McNish described it as one of Hülkenberg’s best drives and pointed to the result as an important boost before the next stretch of the season.
Bortoleto sidelined early
The other side of the Audi garage had a much shorter afternoon. Gabriel Bortoleto started 14th but retired after seven laps. Audi said it suspected a gearbox issue, ending the Brazilian driver’s race before the strategy could develop on a circuit where overtaking remains difficult.
Official Formula 1 results listed Bortoleto as not classified, while Hülkenberg secured eighth. Max Verstappen won the race, with Charles Leclerc second and Kimi Antonelli third.
Next stop: Austin
Singapore gives Audi a meaningful result to carry into the United States Grand Prix. The midfield remains tightly packed, and the team’s own account emphasized the momentum created by scoring on both Saturday and Sunday.
For Hülkenberg, the finish was a reward for a clean opening lap, disciplined tire management and a pressure-heavy final stint. For Audi, it was evidence that execution can turn a top-10 start into a valuable championship result.
Reporting is based on the Audi Revolut F1 Team’s October 11, 2026 race release and official Formula 1 results. Hero image: © 2026 Getty Images, supplied by the Audi Revolut F1 Team Content Hub for editorial use.
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