FIA confirm F1 driver disqualification after Miami Sprint

The FIA has disqualified Audi driver Gabriel Bortoleto from the Miami Grand Prix Sprint race over a technical rules breach.

The Brazilian had finished in 11th place on the road, but during the routine post-session technical checks, it was found by scrutineers that the pressure of the engine air intake exceeded the legal limit of 4.8 bar.

As such, Bortoleto was formally disqualified to cap off a miserable Sprint for Audi, for which Nico Hulkenberg failed to start following a fiery exit on the out-lap to the grid. 

In the verdict, the FIA outlined: “The Stewards reviewed the report received from the Technical Delegate and found that the requirement was for the engine intake air pressure to be less than 4.8 barA at all times. 

“The pressure was measured by two FIA approved devices that were installed in FIA approved locations situated in the engine intake air system downstream of the charge air cooling system. The Stewards heard from the team representatives of Car 5. 

“They admitted that the Technical Delegate’s finding was correct. However, in mitigation, they explained that this happened over one lap, when the temperatures rose higher than they had expected. 

“As soon as that became apparent, they took steps to bring the pressure back in line with the regulations.

“While the fact that they took steps to bring the car back in compliance is recognised, the regulations make it clear that the car needs to be in compliance ‘at all times’, which it was not.

“Given that this is a technical infringement, the usual penalty of a disqualification of Car 5 from the Sprint classification was applied.”