Nico Hulkenberg faced a five-second penalty for a false start during the Hungarian Grand Prix, a decision he contests despite confirmation from race stewards. The Sauber driver expressed his disbelief in an interview with Sky Sports F1 Germany, stating he believes he did not jump the start.
Hulkenberg described his experience during the race, admitting he had “no idea” how the penalty came about. He explained, “From my perspective, I didn’t do anything wrong, no jump start. I was a bit late today engaging first gear, and when you do that, the car makes a little jump.” He speculated that his car might have moved slightly forward as the clutch engaged, which could have triggered the penalty according to FIA regulations. The FIA monitors any car movement after the four-second light is illuminated until the race starts with the extinguishing of all red lights.
The penalty added to a challenging weekend for the German driver, who qualified 19th after struggling with persistent issues regarding the rear of his car. In contrast, his teammate, rookie driver Gabriel Bortoleto, achieved a commendable sixth-place finish. Hulkenberg ultimately finished the race in 13th position, behind Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, and described the day as “long, tough, hard work.”
“I don’t think it was race-defining or world-changing, but of course, it kind of fits with how the whole weekend has gone,” he remarked, highlighting the difficulties he faced throughout the event.
As the Formula 1 circuit enters a three-week summer break, Hulkenberg expressed a desire to end the weekend on a stronger note. Reflecting on the recent two-week break, he said, “For me, it could keep going right away. Especially after a weekend like this, it wouldn’t be bad to get straight back in the car and keep working and driving.”
Despite the setback, Hulkenberg plans to utilize the break effectively, looking forward to returning to the track at the next race in Zandvoort. “It is what it is. I’ll use the break as best I can, and then we’ll be back in a few weeks,” he concluded, demonstrating his determination to improve as the season progresses.
