– Audi completed its second and final film day of the 2026 Formula 1 season in Monza on Thursday. The special focus was on starts. Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto shared the R26 and completed a total of 30 laps (174 kilometers) without focusing on performance.
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The R26 used did not have any new parts, which the regulations for so-called film days do not allow. Instead, the collected data served to further develop the software that controls the power unit.
The choice of Monza as the track had no technical reasons but was logistical in nature, as it was the only track available to the team. Hülkenberg drove in the morning and completed 15 laps, filled with start exercises.
Three locations were used for this: the pit exit, the first chicane, and the Ascari chicane. The session was briefly interrupted in the morning after a drone crashed onto the track, with no one injured.
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In the afternoon, Bortoleto went on track after a sensor problem that had affected the R26 in the morning was checked. The Brazilian completed an identical program to his experienced teammate: 15 laps, only once crossing the finish line.
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The team around Mattia Binotto now has a large amount of data that is analyzed in the factory in Neuburg to further develop the power unit. In anticipation of the advantages from the introduction of ADUO (Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities), the next Grand Prix in Miami on May 3 will show whether the development direction taken so far is the right one.
On a so-called film day in Formula 1, teams are allowed to complete up to 200 kilometers. Audi therefore waived 26 kilometers in this case. In addition, special demo tires from Pirelli must be used.
Starts have been a big problem for Audi this season so far, so it is no surprise that the day was used to work specifically on this.
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