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 night time 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 Pink Bull.

But Hulkenberg, who’s contesting his final grand prix for Haas earlier than shifting to Sauber in 2025, was dealing with 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 slender tunnel, which suggests the FIA’s race director despatched an up to date word on Friday reminding drivers that overtaking different vehicles is forbidden except the automotive in entrance has an apparent mechanical challenge.

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 slender pit exit.

Going through the stewards, Hulkenberg argued he had no alternative however to muscle his well beyond the vehicles in entrance to make sure he obtained his last lap in, but the stewards stated that was not a legitimate motive to interrupt rules attempting to keep away from harmful conditions.

“The motive force didn’t dispute through the listening to that he didn’t observe the race director’s directions, however acknowledged that he had no different possibility however to breach the foundations in an effort to get a lap in,” the stewards’ verdict learn.

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

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

Speaking about his qualifying efficiency, Hulkenberg stated: “I believe the traits of the observe simply someway actually clicked and suited our automotive.

“Our improvement has been round medium-speed corners, and you have lots of them right here, possibly it is that. The entire mixture simply someway actually labored properly this weekend to this point.”