Audi F1 reliability problems branded “embarrassing” by David Croft after Miami GP disappointment

Sky Sports Formula 1 lead commentator David Croft has argued that Audi’s reliability issues are becoming “a little bit embarrassing” after a troublesome Miami Grand Prix weekend. 

The German marque’s start to 2026 has included multiple reliability issues. While Gabriel Bortoleto secured two points with a ninth-place finish at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, his team-mate Nico Hulkenberg’s race ended before it began when a technical issue forced him to retire on the way to the grid. 

At the second round in Shanghai, China, Bortoleto failed to start because of a hydraulics failure. Hulkenberg finished the Chinese Grand Prix but missed out on points with an 11th-place finish.

After a relatively clean race in Japan, reliability issues reared their heads once again in Miami. Hulkenberg retired early from the grand prix after missing the sprint race due to a power unit failure.

“It's three out of five races now that they failed to start even before the grand prix, and Hulkenberg retiring,” Croft said on the Sky Sports F1 Show. “It's a little bit embarrassing I think for Audi. They will get it right eventually, but they need to start getting it right now because there is potential there, but there's so many different little things that are going wrong. 

“You wonder why that is. It needs a bit more coherence and consistency and it's just not coming.”

Newly appointed Audi racing director Allan McNish discussed the team’s reliability issues after the race.

David Croft, Formula 1 commentator and presenter

Photo by: Jeff Spicer / LAT Images via Getty Images

“Well, obviously you don’t want them – that is for sure. But if you look, a lot of PU manufacturers are having some issues, it’s not just us. If I look at the start, [Kimi] Antonelli for example, at the last one, and I look at it also here, and if I look at a few other deployment [issues]. I think there are a lot of areas that everybody is trying to manage, control, and also learn about.

“The more learning, and certainly for us, we’re learning about a lot more than some of the others, because they’re already in the system with understanding 75% of it.”

He added: “We need reliability, and then we can also start developing in other areas as well. We can improve clearly.

“The frustrating part is not having two cars at the start on Saturday, and especially with the performance that underlined part of it, and that’s certainly an area that’s a clear focus number one. We need to work on that.”