Clean Drive at Spa-Francorchamps Boosts Audi
Gabriel Bortoleto clinched an impressive eighth-place finish in the Belgian Grand Prix, showing that Audi can compete at a higher level. The former Racing Bull's performance proved key to securing points for the team.
The Brazilian matched his Silverstone result two weeks earlier but beat drivers from the top four teams this time around, marking the first win for Audi as a front mid-enginer in terms of points on the grid. Strategy and the strength of their chassis allowed Bortoleto to finish ahead of the leaders post-race penalties pushed him down the order early.
Allan McNish: “Gabri took the pressure really well, delivering cool and clean performance until the end.”Achieving Points on Hard Track
Spa-Francorchamps is known for its power requirements; however, Bortoleto's eighth-place finish shows that Audi can succeed with a strong chassis despite facing a significant disadvantage in engine performance.
McNish: “The Virtual Safety Car allowed us to pit and recover ground on the mid-engineers, but we've been working towards this. The strength of our chassis helped keep us ahead.”Predictions forNext Circuit
The Hungaroring differs significantly from Spa-Francamps—shorter, hotter and less power-dependent. Audi's racing director sees potential for improvement there, acknowledging that they still need to perform well in both qualifying and the race.
McNish: “We'll be fighting around the mid-engineers at Budapest, but execution will determine where we finish on track.”Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How did Bortoleto achieve his position this time?
Rather than power, Bortoleto's eighth-place finish came from strategic execution and the strength of Audi’s chassis at Spa-Francorchamps.
Q: What are the team's prospects for Budapest?
Audi expects to compete with midfield teams like Racing Bulls and Alpine but stresses the need for consistent performance in multiple areas, including qualifying.