On the demanding Suzuka circuit, the German team confirms the progress seen since the start of the weekend, with a presence in Q3 and a generally competitive pace from both drivers.
Gabriel Bortoleto stood out by securing a solid ninth place on the grid, rewarding a perfectly executed session.
The Brazilian built his performance methodically, gaining confidence throughout the runs to finally establish himself as one of the key players in the midfield.
“I am very happy with the session and what the team provided me in terms of the overall package. We built confidence throughout Q1 and Q2, and I was able to put together some really solid laps, he explains. It’s a great feeling to start in the top 10. We have a few cars ahead of us that we know we can compete with on pace, and we will give it our all.”
Hulkenberg frustrated despite good potential
In the other car, Nico Hülkenberg narrowly missed out on Q3 with a 13th place in an extremely tight session. The German believes that the execution was not optimal on his two Q2 attempts, despite a competitive car.
“Qualifying always compresses the field and today was no exception. The margins are very thin. Q2 wasn’t clean enough on my two runs, so we missed out on Q3, he admits. The car was handling well and I think we are on the pace. The goal is to stay clean, execute correctly, and try to move forward.”
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Project leader, Mattia Binotto, gives a generally positive assessment, while highlighting the untapped potential on Hülkenberg’s side: “I am very happy that Gabi reached Q3 and disappointed that Nico didn’t make it, because he had the potential. His lap wasn’t perfect, but he came close to the top 10,” he analyzes.
Binotto insists on race execution
Looking ahead to the race, Binotto emphasizes track position, a key factor at Suzuka: “The margins are tight. Overtaking is particularly difficult here, so the start will be crucial. We will need to execute our race perfectly,” he insists.
In a season still in the learning phase for Audi, every weekend is an important step in building the project. Suzuka is no exception, with a team that now seems capable of regularly competing for points.
“Every race is an opportunity to learn. We will focus on our performance and see what we can achieve,” concludes Binotto.
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