Audi have had a conflicted start to their time in F1 this season, with Nico Hulkenberg failing to start the Australian GP, and Gabriele Bortoleto failing to start the Chinese GP.

Other teams have also endured a difficult start to their season, with neither McLaren taking the start in China, and Williams' Alex Albon also not able to start in Shanghai. During the Chinese GP, three more cars would retire from the race, one of those including four-time world champion, Max Verstappen, among both of the Aston Martin's.

This has led to some discussion surrounding the 2026 technical regulations, and if they are 'too complex'. Audi's Team Principal, Jonathan Wheatley, was asked about Audi's one-car start in both of the opening two races, and if the team believes the regulations are 'too complex'.

Wheatley stated: "It's interesting, isn't it? That they're experiencing issues and all of us experience our own issues with that. Too technical, too complicated? I don't know. It's an ambitious set of technical regulations. It does remind me very much of early 2014, some teams in particular were struggling with that."

The 2014 season was the last major shake-up in the engine regulations, with F1 moving from V8 engines, to V6's. Mercedes managed to dominate the mid-2010's and nailed the regulation changes, whilst other teams struggled intensely.

Wheatley added: "I'm trying to keep my eye on the future, I'm an eternally positive person, and I think we'll get on top of these issues. You never know, perhaps this gap in April will allow people to get on top of that. It's been a very short winter and a very intense few months this year."

The drivers and teams have a one week break before the Japanese Grand Prix, and then an entire month away from racing, due to the ongoing conflict in the middle east.

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