Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile has officially disqualified Gabriel Bortoleto from the Miami Grand Prix Sprint after a breach of technical regulations was confirmed.
The Audi Formula 1 Team driver originally crossed the line in 11th place during the Sprint race. However, routine post-session inspections carried out by FIA scrutineers revealed that his car exceeded the permitted limit for engine air intake pressure. According to the regulations, the pressure must remain below 4.8 bar at all times, but Bortoleto’s car was found to have surpassed that threshold.
Following the investigation, the stewards reviewed a detailed report from the FIA Technical Delegate. Measurements were taken using two FIA-approved sensors installed in designated positions within the engine intake system, specifically downstream of the charge air cooling system. These readings confirmed that the pressure had gone beyond the legal maximum, resulting in a clear violation of the rules.
During the hearing, representatives of the Audi team acknowledged the findings and did not dispute the data presented. They explained that the issue occurred over the course of a single lap when temperatures rose higher than anticipated, which in turn caused the pressure spike. The team added that once the anomaly was detected, immediate steps were taken to bring the car back within the regulatory limits.
Despite these efforts, the stewards emphasized that Formula 1’s technical regulations are strict and require full compliance at all times, without exception. Even a temporary breach is considered a violation, regardless of intent or corrective action taken during the session.
In their final statement, the FIA reiterated that such infringements carry a standard penalty. As a result, Bortoleto was disqualified from the Sprint classification, and his result was removed from the final standings.
The decision compounded a difficult Sprint outing for Audi. Bortoleto’s disqualification came after his teammate, Nico Hülkenberg, was unable to start the race due to a dramatic incident. The German driver suffered a fire during the out-lap to the grid, forcing him to retire before the Sprint even began.
Altogether, it marked a frustrating and disappointing session for the Audi team, leaving them without a result from the Miami Sprint weekend.