Attending the Singapore Grand Prix is always special, but this time it came with a unique twist. I was invited to join the team at Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber for a paddock club experience during the Friday practice session. It was a rare behind-the-scenes look at the outfit that Audi is taking over in 2026.
Hosted in the Raffles Suite of the Paddock Club, our day started with all the race weekend luxuries you would expect. Yet, this was not just another hospitality experience; it was a preview of things to come.
Meetings, Minds and the Audi Momentum
The afternoon began with a conversation with Steven Petrik, Nico Hülkenberg’s race engineer. Friendly, open and precise, he gave us a clear look into how the team and drivers prepare for a race weekend. What started as a casual chat quickly became an engaging exchange, as Steven shared his own journey into motorsport. An American with a lifelong passion for cars, he now finds himself right in the thick of Formula 1, living out a dream that many car lovers can only imagine.
Not long after, we had the opportunity to meet both Nico himself and Gabriel Bortoleto, who is set to join the team full-time in 2026.
Nico Hülkenberg, the experienced German driver, is known for his consistency and technical feedback. In 2025, he finally broke through with a long-awaited podium at the British Grand Prix, finishing third in a dramatic, rain-affected race. It marked his first podium in his 239th career start, setting a new record for the longest wait before reaching the top three in Formula 1 history.
Gabriel Bortoleto, on the other hand, represents the next generation. The Brazilian talent won the 2023 FIA Formula 3 Championship and is widely regarded as one of the most promising young drivers climbing the ladder to Formula 1. Calm, confident and refreshingly grounded, Bortoleto seems well-prepared for the leap.
Both drivers spoke positively about Audi’s takeover. With increased investment and a long-term commitment to the sport, they see the potential for genuine growth and competitiveness. For them, it’s not just about having more budget. It’s about building a team that can evolve steadily and develop a distinct identity in the years to come.
Garage Tour and Pit Lane Walk
After the meet-and-greet, we were ushered down to the garage and paddock areas. Watching the crew up close is always humbling. There is a rhythm and sharpness to everything they do. Being allowed into this world, even just for an afternoon, gave me a new level of respect for the operational complexity behind every lap.
Later in the evening, we returned to the paddock club for Practice 1. The view was spectacular. What made it even more immersive was the pit lane walk, where we toured the garages of every Formula 1 team. Earphones on, we could listen in on team communications as the cars blasted down the floodlit straights of Marina Bay.
At one point, as we stood in the Kick Sauber garage, Liam Lawson spun out, triggering a red flag. That moment, with its urgency, chatter over the radio, and the sight of both Sauber cars returning to the pits, was unforgettable. You are right there, merely a few feet away, watching the tension, the calm, the calculations.
Revolut Audi F1 Team – A New Era Beckons
This whole experience was more than just a good time. It was a front-row view of what’s to come. With Audi officially taking over the team in 2026, the rebranded Revolut Audi F1 Team will enter the grid with ambitions and challenges in equal measure.
It is not easy to enter the F1 world as a full works team, especially under the new 2026 regulations. But with a blend of experience in Hülkenberg, youth and promise in Bortoleto, and serious German precision behind the scenes, there is genuine potential here.
Will they be fighting at the front from the very beginning? Probably not. But this feels like the start of something purposeful, and in the measured world of motorsport, that often counts for more than hype.
