Gabriel Bortoleto delivered an eighth-place finish at the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday, matching the result he achieved at Silverstone two weeks ago but with a crucial difference — this time, every driver ahead of him belonged to Formula 1's four frontrunning teams.
For the first time in Audi's debut season, the German manufacturer won the unofficial midfield battle. The result at Spa-Francorchamps was particularly significant because the track is a power-sensitive circuit where Audi's acknowledged power unit deficit was expected to be most punishing. Yet the strength of the chassis and aerodynamic package carried Bortoleto into Q3 and kept him in contention throughout the race.
Audi's Racing Director Allan McNish described the Brazilian's drive as a "cool and clean performance."
The race was not without its challenges. Bortoleto lost positions to Liam Lawson and Franco Colapinto on the opening lap, while gaining one from George Russell's early retirement. As Lando Norris and Isack Hadjar carved through from the back after penalties, Bortoleto dropped to 11th. At that stage, points looked uncertain.
But Audi's strategy proved decisive. While midfield rivals Arvid Lindblad, Lawson and Colapinto made early pit stops, Audi kept Bortoleto out on track. When a Virtual Safety Car period allowed the team to pit without losing significant time, Bortoleto jumped all his midfield competitors and emerged in eighth place.
From there, he held off a charging Lindblad to secure the position and deliver four valuable points for Audi.
"We proved if we can be ahead of them, then we can actually finish ahead of them," McNish said, referring to the Racing Bulls drivers who had beaten Audi at recent rounds. "Gabi delivered a really cool and clean performance to the end of the race."
The result builds on the momentum from Silverstone and sets up Audi positively for the Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring — a twisty circuit where power unit performance is less decisive and where Audi's chassis strength could give it an even stronger footing in the midfield battle.
"We'll be roughly fighting in and around that Racing Bulls/Alpine area at the top of the midfield," McNish added. "But to be in the position to do it, we've got to really deliver."
Sources
- https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/cool-and-clean-bortoletos-p8-in-spa-proved-audi-can-challenge-the-midfield.7qJ89cS0AIaOKOK3ldmH9F
