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Audi Faces Intense Weekend Drama with Penalty and Last-Lap Twist
Highlights
- Gabriel Bortoleto qualified 10th, reaching Q3 in Bahrain Grand Prix.
- Nico Hulkenberg started 15th, missed points after last-lap overtake.
- Bortoleto received a 10-second penalty after collision with Carlos Sainz.
- Audi fined for unsafe pit stop involving Hulkenberg; partial suspension.
- Team struggles with late-race points loss, focus on upcoming Singapore race.
- Allan McNish praised car pace despite frustrations and penalties.
Audi end Bahrain GP weekend empty‑handed after a last‑lap overtake and penalties undermine a promising, rain-affected event.
Gabriel Bortoleto qualifies 10th, reaching Q3, while Nico Hulkenberg starts 15th. Both gamble on soft tyres at lights‑out despite a damp surface after a delayed start.
Bortoleto reached Q3 and started P10; Hulkenberg lined up P15 on slicks in damp conditions.
An early switch to intermediates lifts both cars. Bortoleto’s recovery stalls after contact with Carlos Sainz’s Williams as the field shuffles in mixed conditions.
The clash damages Bortoleto’s car and triggers a 10‑second penalty, compromising his finish. He accepts responsibility and apologises for the incident’s impact on both races.
Bortoleto received a 10‑second penalty for contact with Carlos Sainz.
Hulkenberg hovers on the edge of the top ten but loses out on the final lap to Arvid Lindblad’s Racing Bulls, mirroring his late setback in Azerbaijan.
The stewards also fine Audi for an unsafe release involving Hulkenberg, with part of the penalty suspended for twelve months subject to no repeat infringement, reflecting Audi’s recent double penalties.
Hulkenberg describes a cleaner, more competitive run than Saturday, yet concedes the package lacks the grip and efficiency to defend a marginal points position to the flag.
Bortoleto, encouraged by upgrades that showed promise in Baku and Malaysia, targets cleaner execution and a step for the upcoming Singapore race as the team readies its Singapore livery.
Racing director Allan McNish praises the car’s raw pace and Bortoleto’s qualifying execution while noting repeated late‑race exposure, particularly around safety‑car phases, that leaves the team vulnerable.
Audi has lost a points position on the final lap in two consecutive events.
McNish frames the weekend as instructive. Focus shifts to tighter pit‑stop processes, sharper tyre‑transition calls, and turning strong stints into bankable points.
The broader project stays on track, with momentum from Audi’s F1 expansion expected to strengthen operations and convert pace into results across forthcoming street circuits and beyond.
Visual Summary
Bortoleto
PEN +10s
PEN +10s
Lindblad
+1pt
+1pt
Hulkenberg
Lap 56 heartbreak
Lap 56 heartbreak
Audi’s Points Slip Away
as Rain, Penalties and Last-Lap Drama Strike in Malaysia
as Rain, Penalties and Last-Lap Drama Strike in Malaysia
Bortoleto
10s penalty
for collision
10s penalty
for collision
Hulkenberg
Lost points
on final lap
Lost points
on final lap
Team
Unsafe pit
release fine
Unsafe pit
release fine
“The car was quick, but luck wasn’t on our side.”
— Allan McNish, Racing Director
— Allan McNish, Racing Director
Audi leaves Malaysia with no points after a final-lap pass snatched away their reward. Early rain and penalties set the tone, but strong pace in qualifying and flashes of progress hint at better days ahead.
Next up: Singapore.
Next up: Singapore.
James William covers the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, from the Rolex 24 at Daytona to sprint-race formats. His reports include prototype performance reviews, GT class battles, and pit-stop strategy insights for endurance-racing fans.
