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Audiâs challenging weekend at the Miami Grand Prix has taken another hit, as their sole participating car in the sprint race has been disqualified following an engine technical infringement.
Gabriel Bortoleto had initially crossed the line in 11th place during Saturdayâs sprint. He was the only Audi on track after his team-mate, Nico Hulkenberg, failed to take the start due to a mechanical failure. However, Bortoleto's result has now been erased from the standings because his engineâs intake air pressure exceeded the maximum permitted limit.
During the stewards' investigation, Audi accepted that the FIA measured the intake air pressure to be above the allowed 4.8barA threshold. In mitigation, the team argued that this spike occurred over a single lap when temperatures rose higher than expected.
Audi explained that they subsequently "took steps to bring the car back in compliance." While the FIA stewards acknowledged these corrective measures, they firmly ruled that a Formula 1 car must remain in compliance with the technical regulations at all times. Because the car was not compliant throughout the entirety of the session, the stewards retained their strict, black-and-white stance on technical infringements, resulting in Bortoleto's immediate disqualification.
The disqualification compounds a deeply troubling trend for the Audi squad. Hulkenbergâs pre-race mechanical issue marked the third time in just five eventsâspanning three grands prix and two sprint racesâthat an Audi driver has been unable to take the start due to engine problems.
Following the technical issues encountered during the sprint, it remains unclear whether the participation of either Audi entry is at risk for the upcoming qualifying session. The team now faces a race against time to ensure both cars are reliable and compliant.
Following Bortoleto's disqualification, the updated Miami sprint results are as follows:
DNS: Nico Hulkenberg (Audi) DNS: Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls) DSQ: Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi)
Heâs a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.
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