Nico Hülkenberg (8th): How the Audi driver avoided a crash with Bortoleto

After a big scare right at the start of the race, Audi driver Nico Hülkenberg confidently finished in the points at the F1 Grand Prix in Zandvoort. There was great jubilation at his eighth place and four more points for his World Championship tally (now 15th with six points) after 72 laps – but after just two laps, it was a real scare.

Right at the start of the race, things got really tight for the German! When Max Verstappen skidded off the track early on – whilst the track was still wet from the rain – and crashed into the barriers, Audi driver Gabriel Bortoleto went into a spin. The Brazilian spun once round his own axis in the middle of the narrow track, but fortunately managed to avoid hitting the barriers and was able to continue unharmed.

Bortoleto spins, Hülkenberg right behind him

The quick reaction of Bortoleto’s team-mate Nico Hülkenberg, who was right behind him, also helped ensure the situation ended without serious consequences: the German was approaching at full throttle just as the Brazilian was spinning. Had Hülkenberg not swerved in time, or in the wrong direction, he might well have struck his team-mate from the side – one of the most vulnerable parts of the cockpit. But Hülkenberg reacted brilliantly, swerving to the left in a flash and preventing a collision. That incident could have ended very badly!

Hülkenberg was merely a passenger

Speaking after the race about that frightening moment, Hülkenberg said: “Creepy! Unnerving! At that moment, you’re really just the passenger. I tried to react as late as possible and then instinctively chose one side. It was a matter of trying to anticipate whether he’d skid uphill or downhill.” Watch for as long as possible to see where Bortoleto was being swept, then only then decide which way to swerve. Hülki’s intuition told him: go left! Fortunately, it was the right decision. Hülkenberg: “On a wet track, it’s terrifying and difficult. But luckily we managed to avoid it.”

Important points for Hülkenberg

After that hair-raising situation at the start of the race, however, things went perfectly for the German: “From then on, we had a smooth race, a good strategy and some exciting battles.” Finishing 8th, he scored four points for the team.

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Hülkenberg: “It feels really good to take home some points. They’re important for us in the championship and give everyone in the team a boost, whilst at the same time confirming that the work we’re doing is taking us in the right direction. It wasn’t exactly the easiest weekend, so it feels all the better to have secured a strong result and some valuable points today.”