Audi hits another snag as Hulkenberg’s car stops on track
Audi faced their second red flag of the week on Wednesday when Nico Hulkenberg‘s car suddenly stopped during testing.
This follows Monday’s incident when Gabriel Bortoleto’s RS26 also ground to a halt on track.
Despite the setback, Hulkenberg remained upbeat about the day’s progress.
“We had a slow start this morning with a technical issue that cost us a bit of time, but once we got going, it turned into a really productive afternoon with a good number of laps and valuable first impressions of the car,” he explained.
The German driver acknowledged they’re still in the very early stages with their new machinery.
“It’s still very early days – we’re just scratching the surface. These new cars are incredibly complex, and there’s still so much to discover.”
What makes the process exciting for Hulkenberg is the blank-slate approach the team is taking.
“It really is like working with a blank sheet of paper, but that’s the very exciting part of it,” he added.
Team morale seems strong despite the technical hiccups.
“The mood in the team is positive. Everyone’s motivated and happy to finally be running on track,” Hulkenberg said. “Overall: It’s a solid first step!”
Audi still has one more day remaining of their permitted three-day pre-season test in Barcelona this week.
Will they overcome these early reliability issues? The final day of testing could prove crucial as the team works to iron out these problems before the season begins in earnest.
Want to keep up with all the action from Barcelona? Follow the live updates on GPblog, where you’ll get minute-by-minute coverage of the final testing day.
## Latest F1 Updates
Don’t miss out on the latest F1 news and insights! Subscribe to GPblog’s YouTube channel and turn on notifications to catch every episode of the F1 Paddock Update.
You can also follow along on Spotify to get your F1 fix wherever you are.
