Has Audi proven early on it can join F1's top dogs?

Seven rounds into its maiden season and the picture is mixed. Audi sit ninth in the constructors' championship on a paltry two points, 87 behind fourth-placed Red Bull and a staggering 260 adrift of leaders Mercedes. 

Gabriel Bortoleto's ninth place in Australia remains the team's sole points finish, while Nico Hulkenberg is yet to trouble the scorers.

The power unit, developed at Audi Sport's Neuburg facility, has been identified by specialist analysis as the team's biggest weakness, with reports suggesting the concept is already under internal scrutiny. 

That is hardly the foundation upon which top-four ambitions are built, and it raises serious questions about how quickly the German manufacturer can close the gap to the established order.

Audi's leadership has been clear that this is a long-term project, with title-contending form targeted closer to 2030 than 2026. 

It has an overall car which sits comfortably in the midfield, but is lacking that extra something to push it towards the top four, something Alpine and Racing Bulls are closer to doing.

The infrastructure is being built, the investment is real, yet the deficit to Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull remains enormous.

The question, then, is whether Audi can genuinely break into that top four?

Have your say by voting in the poll below!