Allan Mcnish says Audi heading in "right direction with positive atmosphere" ahead of Belgium

Audi endured an underwhelming start to the 2026 Formula 1 season but returned to the points at Silverstone. Gabriel Bortoleto finished P8, securing the team’s first score since the opening race. Nico Hulkenberg had also been fighting for a top-10 finish before a gearbox problem forced his retirement.

Despite that setback, Audi again competed near the front of the tightly contested midfield. McNish now wants the team to maintain that level at Spa-Francorchamps: "Silverstone was another positive step forward for our team.

"We have been consistently operating at or near the front of the midfield battle and being back in the points after a couple of races finishing just outside of them was a deserved reward for all the work that's been going on behind the scenes.

"Most importantly, there were encouraging signs to take from the weekend as a whole. We have been moving in the right direction over the last few events, and now the challenge is to keep delivering at that level consistently," added McNish.

The Belgian Grand Prix begins the final double-header before Formula One’s summer break. Spa-Francorchamps combines long, high-speed sections with a demanding middle sector. Its unpredictable weather can also quickly disrupt a team’s programme.

McNish believes confidence is growing inside Audi: "There is a positive atmosphere within the team, and everyone is pushing in the right direction. Spa is a demanding circuit, and a different challenge for our cars compared to Silverstone, but another good opportunity to continue our progress."

Audi’s recent improvement has brought them closer to the leading midfield runners. However, reliability remains a concern after Hulkenberg’s Silverstone retirement.

Hulkenberg admitted losing a potential points finish at the British Grand Prix was difficult to accept: "Ending the race early at Silverstone with a gearbox issue was a tough one to take, especially as we were in a position to fight for points before we had to retire.

"On the positive side, our pace has really been heading in the right direction over the last few races. We've been consistently fighting towards the front of the midfield, and that's something we want to build on."

The German believes clean execution will be crucial at Spa, where reliability and changing conditions can rapidly alter the competitive order: "If we can put together a clean weekend, we'll give ourselves the best chance to come home with a solid result."

Bortoleto said his P8 finish had rewarded Audi’s work and provided further motivation before the summer break: "Scoring points at Silverstone was a great result for the team and a nice reward for all the work that's been going on.

"We have been making moderate progress over the last few races and it's important that we keep taking those steps. Spa is an amazing circuit to race at, and I'm looking forward to getting back out there, continuing to learn how to unlock the most from our car, and hopefully fighting for another strong result," added the Brazilian.

Audi now need to prove their Silverstone performance was sustained progress rather than an isolated result. Another competitive weekend would strengthen confidence before the summer shutdown.