FIA Investigates Both Audi Drivers Following US GP FP3 Incidents

Both Audi drivers, Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto, are under FIA investigation following separate incidents during FP3 at the United States Grand Prix. The double scrutiny, combined with significant power unit penalties, leaves the German outfit in a precarious position heading into the qualifying session at COTA.

Why it matters:

Having both drivers summoned by the stewards simultaneously creates a chaotic lead-up to the race. For a team like Audi, which is still establishing its footing in the 2026 landscape, these operational lapses and reliability issues with power unit allocations can derail a weekend's momentum and hinder critical data collection.

The Details:

• On-Track Incident: Gabriel Bortoleto is under investigation for potentially impeding Lewis Hamilton's Ferrari. Hamilton was forced to abandon a flying lap at Turn 12 after encountering the slow-moving Audi, leading to visible frustration over the radio.
• Pit-Lane Clash: Nico Hulkenberg has been summoned regarding an alleged incident in the pit lane involving Lance Stroll's Aston Martin, which occurred early in the FP3 session.
• Grid Penalties: Bortoleto faces a severe 20-place grid drop. This is the result of fitting a fourth Control Electronics (CE) unit and a fourth Energy Store (ES), both exceeding the seasonal limit of three.
• Wider Field Impact: Audi isn't alone in power unit struggles. Alpine's Franco Colapinto will take a 10-place drop for a fourth CE unit, while Racing Bulls' Arvid Lindblad faces a 5-place penalty for using a sixth internal combustion engine (ICE).

What's next:

With Bortoleto effectively starting from the back of the grid, the team's focus now shifts to race-pace optimization and damage limitation. The outcome of the stewards' investigations will determine if additional penalties are added to an already difficult starting position for the Brazilian rookie.