Bortoleto confused by 'weird' Baku form after Q1 exit

Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg of Audi faced a disappointing qualifying session at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, both failing to advance past Q1. Bortoleto finished in 17th place while Hulkenberg was 18th, marking a stark contrast to their usual performance this season. Despite the introduction of a significant upgrade package, the team struggled with grip and pace throughout the weekend.

Bortoleto expressed his confusion over the car's performance, noting that while the upgrades seemed effective, they did not translate into improved results. Hulkenberg attributed his exit to a yellow flag that disrupted his qualifying run, but he remains confident that the team can optimise the new upgrades in the coming weeks. Both drivers acknowledged the challenging conditions in Baku, which may have impacted their performance.