Audi’s Gabriel Bortleto’s spectacular qualifying efficiency on the season-opening Australian Grand Prix was interrupted by a technical downside.
The Brazilian, who’s in his twelfth season in Components 1 with the previous Sauber group, was one of many stars of Melbourne qualifying, hovering close to the entrance of the timesheets in Q1 and narrowly pushing Audi into the highest 10.
Nonetheless, Bortolet’s Audi broke down within the pits on the finish of Q2, and he didn’t take part in Q3. Bortleto’s sudden cease nearly brought on an enormous slugfest, however Arvid Lindblad locked up and narrowly averted a collision with Racing Bulls teammate Liam Lawson.
Audi has not but gotten to the underside of the issue, however Bortolet insists he’s “not too anxious” and is “assured” it’s only a minor downside that may be simply fastened.
“I simply spent half a lap entering into gear,” Bortleto defined. “My gear was out of order.
“This weekend is the primary time we have had a reliability downside. We have had just a few instances in FP (free apply) the place it would not go into gear, however this time it occurred and it felt like there was nothing we may do.”
“Nonetheless, we had qualifying and it was our first Q3 for Audi. We did not count on that, and I do not suppose many individuals anticipated it both. It is an actual disgrace that we could not do extra in qualifying, as a result of I actually thought we had the potential.”
“We have to analyze what occurred on the finish of qualifying, as a result of I hope that does not occur tomorrow.”
Bortleto was optimistic about Audi’s possibilities in Sunday’s Grand Prix, including: “I believe our lengthy runs have been fairly respectable on the whole. We’re fairly assured heading into tomorrow.”
Hulkenberg ‘firefighting’ at Audi
Audi certified tenth and eleventh in Melbourne
Within the different Audi, Nico Hulkenberg’s qualifying was much less clean. The veteran German was unable to hitch his teammate in Q3 and needed to accept eleventh place.
After the session, Hulkenberg revealed that his Audi had been stricken by technical issues all through qualifying.
“Even in Q1, I used to be very constructive contemplating I used to be preventing my automobile rather a lot with issues that weren’t working as they need to,” Hulkenberg stated.
“It was fairly hectic and fascinating, we did not actually get right into a rhythm, we simply had one good clear lap in Q2 and we’re the place we at the moment are. All issues thought of, I do not suppose we’re in a foul place.”
“Loads of groups are going through issues. There’s nonetheless rather a lot to be taught and work out. However it was a really respectable first sport and I believe we’re clearly aggressive within the midfield.”
Hulkenberg believes Sunday’s opening sport is “a matter of survival and we do not know what is going to occur after that.”
