Tom Kristensen, the legendary nine-time Le Mans winner and current Audi brand ambassador, reckons Audi's 2026 F1 campaign deserves way more credit than the current championship standings suggest. Speaking exclusively to Speedweek, the 59-year-old Danish icon argues that while eighth place with 12 points might look underwhelming on paper, what the team has actually achieved is seriously impressive for a new power unit manufacturer in its maiden season.

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After the Spanish Grand Prix upgrade, both Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hülkenberg have been consistently capable of scoring points, with recent results including two eighth-place finishes for Bortoleto and a ninth from Hülkenberg in Hungary. Kristensen believes Audi now operates as roughly the fifth or sixth-best team on the grid, which is genuinely respectable when you consider they're running their own power unit for the first time. The problem, he suggests, is that other midfield outfits have grabbed crucial surprise results, Alpine's Monaco podium and Haas's early-season strength being prime examples.

Building a power unit from scratch is no joke, and Kristensen insists the motorsport industry understands just how monumental that task is. Given the tight cost cap restrictions, there's simply no room for massive development leaps. What matters most is starting strong and maximizing every advantage, which Audi has managed since rolling out their Evo package in Spain. The goal for the second half of the season has to be getting both cars home in the points consistently.

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On Gabriel Bortoleto specifically, Kristensen is bullish. The Brazilian's track record speaks volumes, following the same trajectory as Charles Leclerc, George Russell, and Oscar Piastri before him. Kristensen reckons Bortoleto will become a Grand Prix winner and title contender down the line, though he admits Kimi Antonelli has edged him slightly this season. But crucially, the partnership between Bortoleto and Hülkenberg is rock solid, and that harmony within the team is driving Audi's upward trajectory. That's the real story here.

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Kristensen's bottom line is refreshingly optimistic but realistic, and honestly, it reframes how we should view Audi's inaugural F1 campaign. They're not failing, they're just building.

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