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Audi's Allan McNish praises team's qualifying performance in F1 2026

Motorsport.com • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 4, 2026, 11:25 AM

Last updated Aug 4, 2026

Audi's Allan McNish praises team's qualifying performance in F1 2026

Summary

Allan McNish, Audi’s racing director, expressed surprise at the team's strong start to the 2026 Formula 1 season, highlighting their success in qualifying sessions. Across the first 11 rounds, Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto achieved five Q3 appearances, with average qualifying positions of 12th and 13th. This early performance positions Audi favorably among debutant teams. With the season ongoing, the team will aim to build upon this momentum in upcoming races.

Source Links

Motorsport.com

Key Details

•Audi has five Q3 appearances in 11 races so far.
•Nico Hulkenberg averages a 12th-place qualifying position.
•Gabriel Bortoleto has an average qualifying position of 13th.
•McNish positively surprised by the team's qualifying strength.
•The 2026 Formula 1 season is still ongoing.

Latest Updates

11:25 AMMotorsport.com — Audi performing better than expected in F1 2026 - Allan McNish

What they're saying

"
Audi’s racing director Allan McNish has been positively surprised by his team’s start to the 2026 Formula 1 campaign - citing qualifying as a strength for the debutant squad. The German marque has five Q3 appearances across the opening 11 rounds of the season between Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto, who respectively have an average qualifying position of 12th and 13th. It ...Keep reading
— Motorsport.com

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