Audi Formula 1 racing director Allan McNish has described the team’s Miami Grand Prix weekend as “frustrating” after unrelated reliability problems prevented both cars from starting the Sprint race and forced Nico Hulkenberg into yet another retirement on Sunday.
The German manufacturer’s debut F1 season has been plagued by reliability gremlins, and Miami delivered fresh setbacks. Gabriel Bortoleto showed promising pace in Sprint Qualifying before being disqualified from the Sprint itself due to a technical breach — exceeding the maximum engine intake air pressure. Hulkenberg, meanwhile, couldn’t take the Sprint start after a fire broke out in his car. On Sunday, an overheating drivetrain ended the German’s race prematurely.
It marked the third time this season an Audi has failed to start a session. Hulkenberg suffered the same fate in Australia, while Bortoleto was sidelined before the race in China.
Power Unit Growing Pains
McNish acknowledged the power unit-related issues but stressed that Audi is not alone in struggling with the 2026 regulations.
“Well, obviously you don’t want them — that is for sure. But if you look, a lot of PU manufacturers are having some issues, it’s not just us. If I look at the start, [Kimi] Antonelli for example, at the last one, and I look at it also here, and if I look at a few other deployment [issues]; I think there are a lot of areas that everybody is trying to manage, control, and also learn about.”
The Scot pointed to Audi’s relative inexperience with F1’s current power unit architecture as a compounding factor. While established manufacturers entered 2026 with a foundational understanding of hybrid systems, Audi is learning from scratch.
“The more learning, and certainly for us, we’re learning about a lot more than some of the others, because they’re already in the system with understanding 75% of it. Definitely, we need to tidy those, there’s no question about it.”
Bortoleto Disqualification Not Performance-Driven
Bortoleto’s disqualification from the Sprint was particularly galling given the Brazilian’s strong qualifying performance. McNish clarified that the technical breach — exceeding the maximum engine intake air pressure — did not provide a competitive advantage.
“It’s not something that was performance beneficial yesterday for Gabi. However, the penalty is in or out, and that’s the rules. However, we do have to improve on that, and it’s a clear focus of where we are. And it’s also a clear learning for the operation as well.”
Reliability Crisis Blocking Development
When asked whether a recurring problem links the three pre-race retirements, McNish said no — but emphasised that the reliability crisis is preventing Audi from advancing in other areas.
“No, it’s not, but obviously, that’s not what we need. We need reliability, and then we can also start developing in other areas as well. We can improve clearly.”
The racing director singled out Saturday’s double absence from the Sprint grid as the most damaging moment of the weekend, particularly given the pace Bortoleto had shown earlier.
“The frustrating part is not having two cars at the start on Saturday, and especially with the performance that underlined part of it, and that’s certainly an area that’s a clear focus number one. We need to work on that.”
Audi now turns its attention to the next race at Imola on 18 May, where the team will hope to translate flashes of competitive pace into a weekend where both cars see the chequered flag.