Audi's Miami GP disaster: 'Nothing went right' says Hinchcliffe

Audi's Miami Grand Prix weekend was a complete write-off, with both cars suffering reliability issues and zero points to show for it. F1 TV analysts James Hinchcliffe and Jolyon Palmer dissected the disaster, highlighting the unique challenges facing the German marque as the sole team running Audi power units.

Why it matters:

Audi's painful weekend underscores the steep learning curve for a standalone engine supplier in modern F1. Without customer teams to share data or accelerate development, every reliability hiccup takes longer to resolve, putting their midfield ambitions at risk.

The details:

• Hulkenberg's woes: Missed the sprint due to a power unit failure, then retired early from the Grand Prix after front wing damage compounded the misery.
• Bortoleto's drama: Disqualified from the sprint for a power unit technical infringement, then fought back from the back of the grid to 12th – but still outside the points.
• Hinchcliffe's verdict: “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.”
• Palmer's analysis: Audi is “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.” He compared their disadvantage to Mercedes, Ferrari, and Red Bull, who benefit from multiple teams sharing data.

By the numbers:

Audi sits ninth in the constructors' standings with just two points after five rounds. Bortoleto has both points (15th in drivers' championship), while Hulkenberg is 18th with zero.

What's next:

With the next round in Canada, Audi will be desperate to put Miami behind them. But as Palmer noted, their isolated power unit program means teething issues are inevitable. Expect incremental progress rather than a sudden leap – and more weekends where reliability dictates the result.