Binotto: The R26 is capable of a decent pace, which is encouraging.

      In Audi F1, they believe that the start of the season has been promising, as in Australia, Gabriel Bortoleto reached the final qualifying and earned points in the race, while in China, Nico Hülkenberg finished 11th. Preparing for the upcoming Japanese Grand Prix, the factory team of the German company is set for battle and will strive for better results in Suzuka.

      Mattia Binotto, project leader of Audi in Formula 1: "As we prepare for the third stage of the season, which will take place in Suzuka, we are trying to achieve the clearest possible team performance.

      Everyone, including our competitors, is gradually adapting to the new cars, so it is better not to make mistakes. In the first two races, our car was capable of a decent pace, which is encouraging, but we also understand that there are areas where improvements can be made. This applies equally to the car's efficiency and the team's performance.

      We have tried to address the issues related to technical reliability that we faced in previous stages so that they do not recur, allowing both cars to complete the race distance without failures. The team continues to move forward, and the task is to keep strengthening it, continue learning, and fully utilize any emerging opportunities."

      Nico Hülkenberg: "Suzuka is always a challenge, as the Japanese track is truly complex, but if you manage to do everything right, you feel real satisfaction.

      The first two races left mixed impressions: on one hand, there were encouraging signs, while on the other, we missed the chance to achieve better results. Therefore, our goal now is to bring everything together and act as clearly as possible throughout the weekend.

      One of the most enjoyable aspects of the upcoming stage is meeting with Japanese fans, as they always give us an incredibly warm welcome, and this is one of the unique features of the Japanese racing weekend."

      Gabriel Bortoleto: "I am looking forward to returning to Suzuka, as it is one of my favorite tracks. I raced there for the first time last year, and I really enjoyed that experience.

      Of course, I was disappointed that I couldn't participate in the race in Shanghai, but I know that the team did everything possible to prevent that problem from recurring.

      At the Audi F1 base in Hinwil, we continued to work to extract a bit more from the car during the Japanese weekend, as the races in Australia and China showed that we have a solid foundation. Therefore, it is now important to develop all of this, trying to make the most of the opportunities that will arise throughout the weekend."