Gabriel Bortoleto claims Audi's chassis is strong enough to fight for a top-three qualifying position, but a significant power unit deficit holds them back. The Brazilian driver, who qualified 12th in Austria just a tenth shy of Q3, believes the car's cornering speed is among the best on the grid. He points to GPS data, suggesting Audi is "very quick in basically all the corners" at the Red Bull Ring, losing "massively on the straights." This assessment comes despite recent power unit upgrades introduced in Barcelona.
Bortoleto confidently stated that with comparable straight-line speed to Mercedes or Red Bull, Audi would "easily be fighting for top three." While acknowledging the team still needs overall improvement, his comments indicate a belief that Audi possesses one of F1’s best chassis, at least at tracks suiting its current aero profile. This strong foundation suggests significant potential once their engine development catches up, setting an optimistic tone for their full factory entry.
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