"I felt really at ease with the car," claims Bortoleto after strong Sepang qualifying

Gabriel Bortoleto expressed confidence in his performance after qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, where he reached Q3 for the first time since Zandvoort. He achieved a lap time of 1:37.673, placing him 10th on the grid, but will start from ninth due to grid penalties for other drivers. Bortoleto credited the Audi team for their upgrades and the car's improved performance.

Nico Hülkenberg faced disappointment after a lock-up in Q1 prevented him from advancing, resulting in a 17th place finish, though he will start 15th due to penalties for others. Both drivers are optimistic about their chances in the race, with Bortoleto aiming for points and Hülkenberg looking to capitalize on potential opportunities from his starting position.