Why Jolyon Palmer believes Audi F1 is “behind on the curve” after Miami GP

TL;DR

Audi F1 faced significant challenges during the Miami GP, with reliability issues affecting both drivers. Jolyon Palmer notes that the team is currently 'behind on the curve' in performance.

Key points

Audi F1 faced reliability issues at the Miami GP
Nico Hulkenberg missed the sprint race due to a power unit failure
Gabriel Bortoleto was disqualified from the sprint race

Miami Grand PrixAudiNico HulkenbergGabriel Bortoleto

Motorsport photo

F1 TV presenters Jolyon Palmer and James Hinchcliffe have shared their verdict on the Audi Formula 1 team’s disastrous Miami Grand Prix.

Audi endured a difficult Miami Grand Prix weekend plagued by reliability issues. Nico Hulkenberg missed the sprint race due to a power unit failure before retiring early from the grand prix, and his team-mate Gabriel Bortoleto was disqualified from the sprint race for a power unit technical infringement before recovering from the back of the grid to finish just outside the points in 12th place on Sunday.

“You've got the issue with Hulkenberg earlier in the weekend, then Bortoleto had a brake issue, had the disqualification for a violation on the power unit side and then the failure for Hulkenberg after he already had some front wing damage,” Hinchcliffe said on the F1 TV post-race show.

“Really nothing went right for them this weekend. This is going to be one they just want to put behind them, forget, and try to focus forward to Canada.”

Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team

Palmer added, pointing to the disadvantage the German marque has as the only team running Audi power units: “They're the only team running Audi power units. So, they've got no learning from anyone else. Even from the shakedown, if they're not on track, they're not learning from anyone else.

Q&A

What reliability issues did Audi F1 face during the Miami GP?

Audi F1 encountered multiple reliability problems, including a power unit failure for Nico Hulkenberg and a disqualification for Gabriel Bortoleto due to a technical infringement.

Why does Jolyon Palmer believe Audi F1 is 'behind on the curve'?

Palmer's assessment stems from Audi F1's performance struggles and reliability issues observed during the Miami Grand Prix, indicating a lack of competitiveness.

What were the results for Audi F1 drivers at the Miami Grand Prix?

Nico Hulkenberg retired early due to a power unit failure, while Gabriel Bortoleto finished just outside the points in 12th place after recovering from a disqualification.