Gabriel Bortoleto suffers Audi engine problem in Mexico GP FP3 as qualifying concerns grow

Gabriel Bortoleto encountered a possible engine problem during the opening minutes of the third free practice session for the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix, forcing the Audi driver to return immediately to the pits. The Brazilian reported the issue over team radio with 57 minutes remaining in FP3 at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, raising concerns about the condition of his car ahead of qualifying.

The problem emerged almost immediately after the session began, interrupting Gabriel Bortoleto’s preparations for the remainder of the Mexican Grand Prix weekend. Although the exact cause was not immediately established, the driver’s radio message indicated that something was not functioning correctly within the power unit.

Gabriel Bortoleto reports Audi engine problem during Mexico GP FP3

With just three minutes completed in Saturday’s final practice session, Gabriel Bortoleto alerted his Audi team to a suspected mechanical issue. The Brazilian communicated his concerns directly over the radio before returning to the garage for the problem to be investigated.

“There’s something wrong with the engine,” Gabriel Bortoleto told his team.

The early interruption left Audi facing uncertainty over the nature of the malfunction. With qualifying approaching, understanding the issue was particularly important for the team as it assessed whether the car could return to normal running.

David Croft raises concerns over the severity of Bortoleto’s Audi issue

According to Sky Sports F1 commentator David Croft, the problem could be more serious than a straightforward electronic malfunction. The Audi appeared not to be responding correctly to the driver’s inputs, suggesting that the team might be dealing with a more significant technical issue.

However, the precise cause and extent of the problem had not been confirmed at that stage. Gabriel Bortoleto’s immediate return to the pits left Audi needing to establish what had gone wrong and whether further work would be required before qualifying.

The incident represented an unfortunate beginning to the final practice session for the Brazilian, whose preparations were disrupted before he had been able to complete any substantial running. With the Mexico City Grand Prix qualifying session approaching, the focus turned to identifying and resolving the suspected engine problem.