Gabriel Bortoleto shares why he got ‘emotional’ during his first laps in Audi’s new F1 car

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Audi have just launched their very first Formula 1 car ahead of the German constructor’s maiden season in the sport. Emotions have been high since the car debuted at Barcelona for an initial shakedown.

Audi’s rebrand of Sauber is officially complete, and Formula 1 has a brand-new works team on the grid in the form of the German constructor.

With a new engine formula in play for the upcoming season, there have already been reports of Mercedes and Red Bull finding a potential loophole to eke out some performance on their rivals.

Audi are hoping that the FIA take action quickly, or their debut year could be marred by backmarker results due to their rivals using questionable engineering methods.

However, the calibre of Audi’s power unit isn’t anything to be sniffed at just yet. Things will be decided once the cars hit the track at the first round of the season, but that hasn’t stopped Gabriel Bortoleto from offering an optimistic perspective on things.

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Hearing Audi’s F1 engine fire up for the first time made Gabriel Bortoleto ’emotional’

During an interview with select media, including Motorsport.com, at Audi’s 2026 season launch event, Bortoleto was asked about his first impressions of the German constructor’s first-ever Formula 1 car.

The Brazilian driver was able to give the R26 a spin in Barcelona ahead of the event, and it was an emotional moment for the 21-year-old, who said, “It feels nicer than last year, for sure.

“When you are driving, you are focusing on driving, but definitely when I turned on the car, and I left the garage, it felt like I definitely got emotional there.

“I was like, ‘Oh, that’s an incredible moment, this is going to be history’.”

Heading into his sophomore F1 season this year, Bortoleto is in one of the most promising seats on the grid.

Audi are confident in their ambition to win a title by 2030, and while time will tell whether it comes to fruition or not, Bortoleto will likely be the outfit’s lead driver by that point.

In terms of their immediate goals for the upcoming season, team chief Mattia Binotto is simply hoping for both Audis to finish the season-opener, which takes place in Melbourne at the beginning of March.

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Gabriel Bortoleto’s crash during last year’s Sao Paulo Sprint caused Audi to lose crucial development time

Audi’s technical director, James Key, was also asked a multitude of questions about the car he and his team of engineers had built for the upcoming season.

The British engineer detailed how busy the opening weeks of the new year have been across the team’s three different bases of operations in Neuberg, Hinwil and Bicester.

Key also touched upon how Bortoleto’s scary crash at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix last year hindered their efforts.

He said via Motorsport Espana, “To build a car, get it running before Christmas, and race it in January was incredible.

“[Bortoleto’s accident] had an impact because we were manufacturing parts for that car. It was unfortunate, but once again, the team moved heaven and earth to recover.

“We had to manufacture new wings while building the other car at the same time. And this is what I said before, to conclude that the environment is changing rapidly.”