Sky Sports activities Method 1 lead commentator David Croft has argued that Audi’s reliability points have gotten “a bit of bit embarrassing” after a hard Miami Grand Prix weekend.
The German marque’s begin to 2026 has included a number of reliability points. Whereas Gabriel Bortoleto secured two factors with a ninth-place end on the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, his team-mate Nico Hulkenberg’s race ended earlier than it started when a technical problem compelled him to retire on the best way to the grid.
On the second spherical in Shanghai, China, Bortoleto failed to begin due to a hydraulics failure. Hulkenberg completed the Chinese language Grand Prix however missed out on factors with an Eleventh-place end.
After a comparatively clear race in Japan, reliability points reared their heads as soon as once more in Miami. Hulkenberg retired early from the grand prix after lacking the dash race because of an influence unit failure.
“It is three out of 5 races now that they failed to begin even earlier than the grand prix, and Hulkenberg retiring,” Croft mentioned on the Sky Sports activities F1 Present. “It is a bit of bit embarrassing I believe for Audi. They’ll get it proper ultimately, however they should begin getting it proper now as a result of there’s potential there, however there’s so many various little issues which can be going flawed.
“You marvel why that’s. It wants a bit extra coherence and consistency and it is simply not coming.”
Newly appointed Audi racing director Allan McNish mentioned the group’s reliability points after the race.
David Croft, Method 1 commentator and presenter
Photograph by: Jeff Spicer / LAT Photos through Getty Photos
“Effectively, clearly you don’t need them – that’s for certain. However should you look, a number of PU producers are having some points, it’s not simply us. If I look firstly, [Kimi] Antonelli for instance, on the final one, and I have a look at it additionally right here, and if I have a look at a number of different deployment [issues]. I believe there are a number of areas that everyone is attempting to handle, management, and in addition study.
“The extra studying, and positively for us, we’re studying about much more than a few of the others, as a result of they’re already within the system with understanding 75% of it.”
He added: “We want reliability, after which we are able to additionally begin growing in different areas as properly. We will enhance clearly.
“The irritating half just isn’t having two automobiles firstly on Saturday, and particularly with the efficiency that underlined a part of it, and that’s definitely an space that’s a transparent focus primary. We have to work on that.”
We would like your opinion!
What would you wish to see on Motorsport.com?
– The Motorsport.com Staff
