Günther Steiner is “positively surprised” by Audi, but also makes it clear that we should not expect miracles from Nico Hülkenberg and Co. in the 2026 season.
Audi “positively surprised” him at the Formula 1 winter test in Bahrain. For Audi, it’s a completely new start. Building an engine unit like this is not to be underestimated,“ explains the long-time Haas team boss.
He also recalls: ”Audi changed its entire management team a year and a half ago.” At that time, Andreas Seidl and Oliver Hoffmann were shown the door and Mattia Binotto was installed as the new head of the Formula 1 project. Such behind-the-scenes restructuring is always difficult, explains Steiner. So it is all the more surprising to him that Audi made a decent impression in Sakhir. “They drive consistently, and their times are respectable,” he praises. Gabriel Bortoleto finished the Bahrain test in tenth place on the timesheet, slotting into the midfield directly behind Pierre Gasly (Alpine) and Oliver Bearman (Haas) – and thus ahead of the Williams and Racing Bull drivers, for example.
“Audi doesn’t look too bad,” Steiner emphasizes. “They can’t compete for victories and aren’t among the top four, but if they’re in the midfield, that’s already very positive,” the 60-year-old emphasizes. Last season, the team, then still under the name Sauber and with Ferrari engines, finished ninth and second to last in the World Championship. The highlight of the 2025 season was Nico Hülkenberg’s surprise podium finish at Silverstone. However, Steiner cannot imagine Audi making it onto the podium again at a Grand Prix this year under normal circumstances.
“I don’t think it will be enough for a podium finish this year,” he emphasizes, explaining that Hülkenberg’s task is to “use his experience to help Audi move forward as a team.” In addition, the German is sure to score some World Championship points.
“We all know what Nico is capable of,” praises Steiner, who knows Hülkenberg very well from their time together at Haas. “But there won’t be a podium for Nico this year,” he predicts.
