Status: 10.10.2023, 10:12 a.m.
By: Christoph Klaucke
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Nico Hulkenberg endured a bitter race in Qatar. The only German in Formula 1 made a serious mistake at the start. Ralf Schumacher has no understanding.
Doha – Formula 1 is entering the home stretch of this season. Max Verstappen was crowned world champion in the heat at the Qatar Grand Prix in Doha. The Dutchman thus completed the title hat-trick with six races to go – Verstappen also won the strenuous Qatar race. From a German point of view, the weekend was once again disappointing, Nico Hulkenberg made a serious mistake and finished second to last in P16.
| Nicolas Hulkenberg | |
|---|---|
| Born: | August 19, 1987 (age 36), Emmerich am Rhein |
| Formula 1 debut: | At the 2010 Bahrain Grand Prix |
| Previous teams: | including Williams, Force India, Renault, Aston Martin |
| Current Team: | Haas F1 Team |
Nico Hulkenberg starts from the wrong position – and receives penalty
Even before the start of the race, the only German Formula 1 driver made a mistake that was as curious as it was bitter. The 36-year-old from the Rhineland started from the wrong position on Sunday and was quickly given a ten-second penalty for it.
Hulkenberg had accidentally driven his Haas race car into the vacant grid seat of Spaniard Carlos Sainz. The Ferrari driver was unable to compete at short notice due to problems with the fuel system.
Ralf Schumacher criticises Nico Hulkenberg for his blunder at the start in Qatar. © Andy Hone/Thomas Fuessler/Imago
Hulkenberg parks at the race in Qatar – Ralf Schumacher finds it "embarrassing"
Sainz would have started the Grand Prix from twelfth place, Hulkenberg directly behind from 14th position. So the veteran drove a row too far forward into the free space and apparently didn't notice the mistake.
"Sorry, I can't let that happen to him. He's been around for so long," commented former racing driver Ralf Schumacher on Sky and blasphemed: "It's a bit embarrassing. The position is vacant, but you know that."
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"I screwed up": Nico Hulkenberg makes a mistake in Qatar
Hulkenberg did not beat around the bush after the race in Qatar and took the blame on his cap. "I fucked it up. We don't need to talk about it," explained the Rhinelander, who was obviously overwhelmed by the short-term change at the start.
"It's a strange situation when suddenly there's no car in front of it. You're used to catching up." An annoying mishap, although the strain caused by the heat was probably the much bigger problem – several riders fainted after the race.
Nico Hulkenberg on heat race in Qatar: "Singapore a fart"
"It was at the limit today. Extremely hot, physically. It was definitely the hottest race of my career for me," Hulkenberg said after the Grand Prix. "And that's despite the fact that I rode alone most of the time. It's even more intense in the duel. Compared to the temperatures and humidity, Singapore is a fart. It's amazing." (ck/dpa)