With upgrades to the car, Audi posted its worst qualifying performance of the season.

== sync, corrected by elderman == @elder_man

Before the ranking: expectation with the biggest package of the year

Audi brought to the Azerbaijan Grand Prix its biggest package of novelties of the year. On weekends like this, qualifying is usually the first time that a team can measure whether changes have brought real pace to the car. The scenario was therefore straightforward: put both drivers on track and see if the package translated into grid position.

In the session: Bortoleto in 17th, Hulkenberg one position behind

Gabriel Bortoleto finished the classification in 17th place, one position ahead of teammate Nico Hulkenberg. The result left both drivers out of the front rows and increased pressure on the race as in Azerbaijan recovery depends on start, strategy and possible incidents.

Next: the definition of "worst rhythm of the year"

Summing up the day, Bortoleto was blunt: "It was the worst qualifying of the year in terms of pace". The phrase points out that the team faced not just a bad lap but a lack of competitive speed throughout the session.

Where the Audi is now

The current picture is one of unfulfilled expectations on the first weekend's thermometer: biggest package of the year, 17th position and a teammate just behind.