Analysis
Hulkenberg avoids collision with Audi teammate Bortoleto
Nico Hulkenberg details close call with Gabriel Bortoleto at Dutch GP, avoiding a major incident for Audi.
Audi Drivers Avoid Collision
Nico Hulkenberg narrowly avoided a significant collision with his Audi Formula 1 team-mate Gabriel Bortoleto during the Dutch Grand Prix. The incident occurred on the opening lap at Zandvoort, with Hulkenberg describing the situation as "scary, sketchy." He ultimately finished eighth, securing four points for Audi, while Bortoleto placed 13th. This marks the fourth consecutive race in which Audi has scored points. The team remains eighth in the constructors' championship, five points clear of Williams and five points behind Haas.
Dramatic Opening Lap
The near-miss took place at the final banked corner of the circuit, which remained damp despite much of the track drying. Motorsport.com reported that Max Verstappen crashed heavily ahead of the Audi drivers. Bortoleto then spun 360 degrees, leaving his car momentarily stationary in the middle of the track. Hulkenberg, directly behind, executed a last-second swerve to avoid contact. Crash.net reported that Hulkenberg attributed his avoidance to an instinctive reaction, waiting to see his teammate's trajectory before choosing a side. Bortoleto indicated that Verstappen's crash may have triggered his own spin, causing him to lose control.
Close Call Details
Both drivers commented on the proximity of the incident. Hulkenberg stated that he reacted "as late as possible" to prevent a direct impact. Motorsport.com quoted Hulkenberg as saying that "a sheet of paper would have fit between us, but not much more." He highlighted the difficulty of the conditions, noting that the specific corner remained much wetter than the rest of the track. Audi's racing director, Allan McNish, also commented on the near miss, saying he lived "every second with them" and that the replay revealed the true closeness of the incident between his two drivers.
Impact on Team Morale
Hulkenberg's points finish was significant for Audi. Crash.net quoted Hulkenberg as saying the result was "super important for the team and the championship." He also noted its positive impact on team morale, confirming that their work was heading in the right direction. For Hulkenberg personally, the points provided a welcome end to a challenging weekend. The next F1 round is the Italian Grand Prix, with the first session scheduled for Friday, September 4th, at 13:30 Finnish time.
Status And Sources
This story is labelled Analysis, which means this is our reading of facts that are already established. The rules behind those labels are in the editorial policy, and the desk that published it is Eero Lahtinen.
Written from the following reporting. Each link goes to the newsroom's own page, not to an aggregator:
- Crash.netcrash.net
- Motorsport.commotorsport.com
