Hulkenberg explains his disqualification in Brazil: "A small mistake that has enormous consequences"

This is a fact that has become rare in Formula 1 in recent years. Being black-flagged in the middle of a race hasn't happened since the 2007 Canadian Grand Prix, when Felipe Massa and Giancarlo Fisichella were disqualified for running a red light at the pit lane exit. Seventeen years later, Nico Hulkenberg joined the list of drivers who received a black flag in a race.

On Sunday, during the Brazilian Grand Prix, the German was disqualified after 30 laps, when the race was interrupted with the red flag. The reason? The driver Haas received outside help from the track marshals at the first bend, having been stuck on a water drain grid after a spin.

“Unfortunately I needed help from the marshals as I was stuck, which is really unfortunate after a low speed spin, explains Nico Hülkenberg. It was a mistake on my part, but I was unlucky to get stuck like that. Normally you spin, but you can continue afterwards, so it was a small mistake that had huge consequences. It was a very difficult and very disappointing weekend.

Haas loses one place in the championship

The premature end of a very complicated weekend for Haas, who saw their good momentum cut short at Interlagos. Eliminated in Q1, the drivers of the American team experienced an ordeal on Sunday during the Grand Prix: before his disqualification, Nico Hülkenberg was not able to come back, while Ollie Bearman distinguished himself by multiple errors, with a collision and several track exits.

With this zero point, Haas ends a great series of five finishes in the points… and even lost a place in the Constructors' standings against an unexpected opponent: AlpineHaas is now engaged in a three-way battle against the A-squad and Racing Bulls for that 6th place in the championship, in the last three Grands Prix of the season.

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