Gabriel Bortoleto has expressed regret following his crash during Q1 of the Monaco Grand Prix qualifying. The Brazilian driver acknowledged that he took “too many risks” and wished he could have delivered a better result for the Audi team.
Bortoleto’s Performance in Monaco
The weekend began positively for Audi. Throughout the practice sessions, both Bortoleto and teammate Nico Hulkenberg consistently performed well, often placing in the top 10. This strong performance continued into Free Practice 3, where Bortoleto secured seventh place, ahead of Hulkenberg in tenth.
Qualifying Challenges
However, the qualifying session took a setback for Bortoleto when he made contact with the barriers at the Nouvelle Chicane. This incident halted his session prematurely, forcing him to finish in 16th place despite having posted a time that initially saw him through to Q2.
Bortoleto reflected on his performance, stating, “I think I’ve not done a good job in Quali. There is not really much I can say. I took too many risks.” He emphasized that Audi had shown top-10 pace since the first practice session and acknowledged his mistake in not managing his risk better.
Looking Ahead
With the race approaching, he noted the difficulties of overtaking on the Monaco circuit. “We know Monaco is Monaco, right? It’s tough to overtake here,” Bortoleto said. “It’s a shame not to be able to put the car where the team deserved.” He expressed his disappointment for the team, which he felt had done an exceptional job over the weekend.
Hulkenberg’s Qualifying Round
Regarding Nico Hulkenberg, he reached Q2 but finished in 13th position, a result he described as disappointing. “The last run was a bit unlucky in terms of traffic,” he remarked. “We’re just struggling to find more lap time or grip.” He noted the team’s frustrations, especially after a promising start to the weekend.
Bortoleto’s and Hulkenberg’s performances raise questions about Audi’s competitiveness and their strategies in challenging circuits like Monaco. The team will need to regroup and refine their approach as they head into the race on Sunday.
