Audi Don’t Need to Confirm F1 2027 Line-Up But Announces Another Major Step
· Yahoo Sports
Audi F1 team bosses say there is no need to announce, but it is known that Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto will continue with them in F1 2027.
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Amid official announcements from several F1 teams about their 2027 lineup, Audi team bosses aren’t going to make one for Hulkenberg and Bortoleto, simply because they are to stay with the German outfit next year as well. The team is happy and so are the drivers.
Binotto on Why Audi Don’t Need to Announce
Mattia Binotto reckoned there is no need or necessity to announce or confirm because it is well known and there is no problem on either side making any kind of change. “I think our situation is even simpler,” he said. “We have no discussion what’s the plan for the next season.
“Our drivers were contracted, so we knew that it would have been no change. But on top of that, I think we are happy on the speed of them. So, we never announced really what would happen next year because there was no necessity.
“So, we have a line-up which is confirmed and on which we are happy with,” summed up Binotto, as he expressed his happiness with both the F1 drivers, while dissecting what each one brings. On the experience of Hulkenberg, he is impressed by the consistency that he brings to the table.
How Hulkenberg Has Matched Audi’s Expectations
He feels that the German has exploited everything from the car and the package, picking up on opportunities presented with an attacking mindset. “Very happy, yes, I would think that’s the answer,” started Binotto. “So, you need then to analyse. It’s a different situation for both of them. You’ve got an experienced driver, Nico, more a junior driver with Gabi. Nico is consistently delivering.
“I think Nico, when he’s come to, especially on the Sunday, the race, the consistency, being robust, very little mistakes, exploiting always the potential of the car, scoring points wherever there is a necessity or an opportunity. And I think that’s Nico. And so far, he has delivered well. Whenever he had an opportunity, he exploited the maximum potential for our car,” summed up Binotto.
Bortoleto Has Stepped Up as Well
On the other hand, with Bortoleto they have a young driver with the raw mindset of pushing at all costs. The Brazilian is complimenting the experience of Hulkenberg and delivering in qualifying whenever there is opportunity. There is consistency from his side of the garage too.
“Gabi is being more junior,” Binotto continued. “It’s a learning phase, so it’s more, I think, we need to look at him more in his development, the rate of development. And here again, I have to say I can see his confidence growing race after race. You can see that he is becoming faster and faster, having obviously more confidence himself.
“No big mistakes, maybe a couple, but that’s part, again, of his learning phase. But overall, he is consistent as well. He is exploiting certainly the potential of the car. He is very fast in quali, on the single lap, when it matters. So overall, I have to say that I’m pretty pleased. So happy with the line-up, compared to both of them,” summed up Binotto.
McNish Sides with Binotto on Audi F1 Lineup
When Audi F1 team principal Allan McNish was asked about Binotto’s confirmation, the veteran had similar thoughts about the Italian when talking about Hulkenberg and Bortoleto. He sees the German as an attacker who is not afraid to go for it, even being an experienced campaigner.
Usually, a driver takes a slower approach as he gains experience, but he sees Hulkenberg still going like a fox. And Bortoleto, with the raw speed, is picking up from the German. Much like Binotto, even McNish sees no reason why Audi would want to undertake any change in F1 2027. He thinks Bortoleto brings more from Hulkenberg, which is a good toss-up.
“In that respect, both drivers bring something quite different to the team,” said McNish. “And both complement each other pretty well, to be honest. And you can see by the performance of them both, they’re both in there. Both fight and they’re both feisty.
Bortoleto Brings Better Out of Hulkenberg
“Nico, I think actually Gabi brings out a lot of good things in Nico, young energy and Nico, without doubt, is he’s got a good game. And his race game was really good. He’s not shy. He’s not playing percentage games, he’s playing attacking. And that’s a positive on the other side of it.
“We’ve obviously got raw speed in Gabi and the ability to actually pick it up, and I think with Gabi he’s learned a lot this year. From the beginning of the year till summer break, I think there was a massive development in him, confidence, the way he just approaches things.
“It’s really good to see. And so, from our point of view, I don’t think we could add a better where we are better driver lineup this year or next in all honesty,” summed up McNish, as Audi gears up for the final leg of their fight against Haas for seventh place in the F1 constructors’ championship.
No Driver Announcement But Major Infrastructure Step
While they don’t need an announcement of their F1 driver line, they certainly needed one for the major step relating to the new campus at Hinwil. It is situated less than one kilometer from their current base. Part of the new campus at Zurichstrasse started operational work, with full completion scheduled to be in 2030.
Audi informed that the existing site at Wildbachstrasse will remain operational in the period. It will eventually be redeveloped as the F1 team’s manufacturing center and wind tunnel operation. The new center is the second after their technical center at Bicester in the United Kingdom, with the power unit base at Neuburg.
It is a major step for Audi in their quest to return to the top spot in the F1 pecking order and a big expansion at Hinwil, which has been operational since 1970. “The Campus will play an important role in helping us attract and retain world-class talent while providing the foundations required to achieve our long-term ambitions,” said Binotto.
Significant in Hinwil’s Long-Standing History
“Building a successful Formula 1 team is ultimately about people. The best engineers, designers, mechanics and specialists want to work in an environment that allows them to collaborate, innovate and perform at their highest level. The campus will help us create exactly that environment.
“What makes this project particularly special is that it allows us to shape the future of the Audi Revolut F1 Team from the ground up. Opportunities like this are rare in modern Formula 1. We are not simply moving into an existing facility; we are creating a home designed around our people, our culture and our ambitions.
“This Campus is an important part of that journey. We are proud that the next chapter of Audi Revolut F1 Team will be written in Hinwil and I would like place on record my thanks to the Municipality of Hinwil itself.”