Audi made progress with the R26 in Monza.

      Yesterday in Monza, the Audi F1 team held its second filming day out of two allowed for the season, effectively turning it into a successful test where they managed to achieve certain progress with the power unit and the car as a whole.

      Italian and German sources separately reported that Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto, along with the team's engineers, primarily focused on improving engine efficiency in extreme conditions and practiced the starting procedure. The drivers took turns and together completed a total of 30 laps.

      The new factory team, formed from Sauber, held its first filming day in Barcelona back in January, where they checked the overall functionality of the R26 car and its onboard systems. Testing during the season is prohibited by regulations, but each team has the opportunity to work with the car during filming days, each of which allows for a maximum of 200 km of driving.

      Only special "demonstration" Pirelli tires, which differ in grip and wear characteristics from the rubber used during race weekends, are permitted.

      According to Auto Motor und Sport, the team working in Monza successfully accomplished two tasks: first, the marketing department received a large volume of video material filmed at the legendary Italian track; second, the engineers aimed to use this day as effectively as possible to study the behavior of the AFR26 Hybrid power unit in various modes.

      Additionally, it was important for the team to work on the starting procedure, which turned out to be its weak point, causing both drivers to lose several positions at the start of the season. Gabriel and Nico also complained multiple times about the excessively harsh operation of the transmission during gear shifts, which sometimes caused the car to lose stability during braking and acceleration. Audi's specialists also paid attention to all these issues.

      There is no information on whether the team used any new engineering solutions, but it is possible that progress was primarily achieved through software improvements. The extent to which this will reflect on Audi's results will become clear in a couple of weeks in Miami, especially since a whole range of aerodynamic innovations is being prepared in Hinwil for the fourth round of the season.