Nico Hulkenberg came within one position of scoring points for Audi at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, finishing 11th after being overtaken by Arvid Lindblad on the final lap. The German had progressed from 15th on the grid and remained in contention for points until the closing stages at Sepang International Circuit.
Gabriel Bortoleto's race was compromised early when he made contact with Carlos Sainz, earning a 10-second time penalty for the incident. The collision damaged his car and dropped him too far behind to fight for points, leaving him to complete the race on his own.
Both Audi drivers started on soft tires in wet conditions, a strategy that initially worked against them given the damp track surface from earlier rainfall. However, after switching to intermediate tires, both cars made progress through the field during the chaotic race.
The team also received a fine with part suspended for 12 months after an unsafe release of Hulkenberg during a pit stop. Despite the setbacks, Bortoleto remained positive about the upgrade package introduced at Baku, describing it as strong and expressing excitement for the Singapore Grand Prix.