Nico Hülkenberg finished eighth in the Singapore Grand Prix at Marina Bay, 83.386 seconds behind winner Max Verstappen, and kept George Russell’s Mercedes behind him through the closing laps to score four points. With seventh and two points in Saturday’s rain-hit Sprint, he took all six of Audi’s points on the weekend.
Russell finished ninth, 1.291 seconds behind Hülkenberg. Gabriel Bortoleto was not classified after retiring with what Audi calls a suspected gearbox issue.
Eighth from 10th on the grid
Hülkenberg qualified 11th and started 10th, promoted one place by Russell’s 60-place grid penalty. The stewards investigated Hülkenberg for impeding Sainz at Turn 5 in qualifying and applied no penalty, citing mitigating circumstances because the team had relied on inconsistent official timing data.
In the race he made one stop, on lap 30, and rejoined in 10th. He finished two places higher than that, 1.720 seconds behind Liam Lawson’s Racing Bulls in seventh.
Russell never found a way by
Russell started 19th after his penalty and spent the evening working forward, but F1’s race report has him stuck behind Hülkenberg in the fight for eighth. Audi’s report calls the defense heroic, and Racing Director Allan McNish rates it one of the best races he has seen Hülkenberg drive. That’s the team talking about its own driver. Our read is simpler: Russell climbed 10 places and still couldn’t get by, and that defense was the best thing Audi did all weekend.
“It wasn’t easy, but we managed to hold on and bring home some important points. Scoring six points over the Sprint and the Race is a great reward for everyone’s hard work.”
Nico Hülkenberg, Audi Revolut F1 Team, after the race.
Seventh in the rain-hit Sprint
Saturday’s Sprint gave Audi its first two points of the weekend. Rain delayed the start by 30 minutes, and the 20-lap race got going on intermediate tires after two formation laps. Hülkenberg finished seventh, 27.525 seconds behind Verstappen.
Bortoleto’s Sprint ended after six laps, when Albon ran into the back of his car at Turn 16 as the field prepared for a restart. Albon was not penalized.
Bortoleto out early on Sunday
Bortoleto retired after seven laps. He pulled off toward the pit lane exit, which brought out a Virtual Safety Car, and the car later caught fire. Marshals put out the flames, and the pit lane entry was briefly closed while they did.
The finish around Hülkenberg
| Pos. | Driver | Team | Laps | Gap to winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | 62 | +81.666s |
| 8 | Nico Hülkenberg | Audi Revolut F1 Team | 62 | +83.386s |
| 9 | George Russell | Mercedes | 62 | +84.677s |
| Not classified | Gabriel Bortoleto | Audi Revolut F1 Team | 7 | DNF |
Where Singapore leaves Audi
Audi now has 23 points, seven behind Haas in seventh in the constructors’ standings, though the FIA’s points table notes Audi’s intention to appeal a stewards’ decision from the Italian Grand Prix. Hülkenberg is 14th in the drivers’ championship on 13 points, so nearly half his season total came from this one weekend.
Eighth equals the team’s best Grand Prix finish of 2026, matching Bortoleto at the British and Belgian Grands Prix and Hülkenberg at the Dutch Grand Prix.
Austin is next, and we’ll follow the Audi side of that weekend on Instagram at @audi_obsession.
Sources: FIA final race classification. FIA final starting grid. FIA final Sprint classification. FIA championship points. Formula 1 pit stop summary. Formula 1 race report. Formula 1 Sprint report. Audi Revolut F1 Team race report. Audi Revolut F1 Team Saturday report.