Hulkenberg given grid penalty after safety breach in Abu Dhabi GP qualifying

Haas System 1 driver Nico Hulkenberg will drop from fourth to seventh on the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix grid after incurring a grid penalty for overtaking at pit exit.

Hulkenberg starred in Saturday evening qualifying on the Yas Marina circuit, taking fourth on the grid behind each McLarens and Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari, however forward of world champion Max Verstappen within the Crimson Bull.

But Hulkenberg, who’s contesting his final grand prix for Haas earlier than transferring to Sauber in 2025, was going through an investigation that put his second-row beginning spot in jeopardy, with a three-place grid drop later confirmed for overtaking vehicles at pit exit.

Abu Dhabi’s pit exit is exclusive in that it crosses below the race observe through a slim tunnel, which implies the FIA’s race director despatched an up to date observe on Friday reminding drivers that overtaking different vehicles is forbidden until the automobile in entrance has an apparent mechanical situation.

However forward of the ultimate salvo of runs in Q1 Hulkenberg broke that directive, overtaking each Sainz and Alpine’s Jack Doohan as drivers slowly coasted out of the pits to discover a hole. He was then nearly inadvertently nudged into the wall by Lance Stroll within the Aston Martin, additional underlining the protection danger of attempting to squeeze previous at such a slim pit exit.

Going through the stewards, Hulkenberg argued he had no alternative however to muscle his well past the vehicles in entrance to make sure he received his ultimate lap in, but the stewards stated that was not a legitimate cause to interrupt laws attempting to keep away from harmful conditions.

“The motive force didn’t dispute throughout the listening to that he didn’t comply with the race director’s directions, however said that he had no different possibility however to breach the principles to be able to get a lap in,” the stewards’ verdict learn.

“While the stewards acknowledge that the place of the workforce’s garages limits their choices to ship the vehicles out on observe, this will by no means be used as an excuse to breach any laws.

“The prohibition of overtaking in sure areas because the pitlane or, on this case, the pit exit, is carried out to forestall probably harmful conditions and subsequently the stewards decide {that a} grid drop is warranted on this case.”

Speaking about his qualifying efficiency, Hulkenberg stated: “I feel the traits of the observe simply in some way actually clicked and suited our automobile.

“Our improvement has been round medium-speed corners, and you have lots of them right here, possibly it is that. The entire mixture simply in some way actually labored effectively this weekend up to now.”