Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto tested ‘various’ solutions for Audi’s ‘top priority’ at Monza

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Audi drivers Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto utilised a filming day at Monza on Thursday to test various methods they can now use to try to improve their race starts.

The German brand utilised the break in the F1 calendar from the cancellation of the races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia to visit the home of the Italian Grand Prix. Audi are not the only F1 team using the gap to stage a filming day, either, with Ferrari set to test at Monza next week.

Monza is predicted to be one of the most challenging tracks on the calendar this season due to the difficulties the teams expect to encounter with recharging their batteries on the long, high-speed straights. But Audi had a different ‘priority’ for Hulkenberg and Bortoleto to test.

That is according to Autosport Web, which reports that Audi split the driving duties between Hulkenberg in the morning and Bortoleto in the afternoon. Formula 1 allows teams to do up to 200km (124m) on track during a filming day, where they must also use promotional tyres.

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Audi made Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto practise their race starts at Monza

Audi utilised their filming day to work on resolving the issues that Hulkenberg and Bortoleto have had so far in 2026 with race starts. The German and Brazilian have encountered issues getting the R26 off the line in every race so far, so finding a solution was Audi’s ‘top priority’.

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Hulkenberg and Bortoleto ‘rarely’ did more than one continuous lap throughout the day, as they instead ‘repeatedly’ came to a halt to carry out a practice start. It is also said that Audi had Hulkenberg and Bortoleto stop at the exits of the first two chicanes to do practice starts.

Audi wanted Hulkenberg and Bortoleto to test ‘various’ approaches, as their poor starts this season have denied them both stronger results. Hulkenberg started P11 in China and P13 in Japan, but the 38-year-old finished the opening lap in P15 in Shanghai and in P19 at Suzuka.

Bortoleto was Audi’s sole car on the grid in Melbourne as Hulkenberg did not start due to a technical problem. The Brazilian also did not start in China due to a technical issue, while he fell from P10 on the grid to P11 after one lap in Australia and P9 to P13 after a lap in Japan.

Hulkenberg’s time on the track at Monza was also interrupted by a red flag caused by one of Audi’s drones crashing onto the circuit. Audi’s marketing department utilised the filming day planned mainly to further understand the R26 as a chance to also make a wealth of content.