Gabriel Bortoleto disqualified from Miami sprint race: Here's why

Gabriel Bortoleto was disqualified from the Miami sprint race after his Audi breached engine intake air pressure regulations

Audi Formula 1 driver Gabriel Bortoleto has been disqualified from the Miami sprint race.

After crossing the line to finish 11th in the Miami sprint race, Bortoleto was disqualified when his car's engine intake air pressure was found to have exceeded the permitted limit.

"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 official statement from the stewards read.

"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."

Audi explained to the stewards that the breach occurred during a single lap due to higher temperatures than expected. The report added: "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.

Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team

Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images

"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 recognized, the regulations make it clear that the car needs to be in compliance ‘at all times’, which it was not."

It was a morning to forget for the Audi F1 team. In addition to Bortoleto's disqualification, his team-mate Nico Hulkenberg failed to start the sprint race after his car caught fire.

Bortoleto currently sits 13th in the drivers' standings with two points, and Hulkenberg sits 17th with zero points.