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

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

Photo by: Guido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty Images

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. 

“Mercedes have got teams. Ferrari have got multiple teams. Red Bull have got two teams. Audi and Aston Martin are struggling a little bit in those stakes. So, they're just behind on the curve. They're doing an OK job overall, but they are going to have these teething issues that will take longer to iron out because of it.”

Audi currently sits ninth in the constructors’ standings with two points. Bortoleto sits 15th in the drivers’ standings with two points, whereas his experienced team-mate Hulkenberg is 18th with no points.