Nico Hulkenberg Responds to McLaren CEO’s Comments on Turn 1 Crash
Sauber Formula 1 driver Nico Hulkenberg has publicly addressed the controversy surrounding a first-lap crash at the United States Grand Prix sprint race. The incident involved Hulkenberg, Oscar Piastri, and Lando Norris of McLaren Racing. While the stewards ruled the crash as a racing incident, McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown initially criticized Hulkenberg.
Brown expressed his frustration after the crash, stating that he believed Hulkenberg was responsible for the collision. He told Sky Sports F1: “That was terrible. Neither of our drivers to blame there. Some amateur hour driving. Some drivers up there at the front whacked our two guys.” He added, “I want to see the replay again, but clearly Nico drove into Oscar and he had no business being where he was.”
However, after reviewing the footage, Brown changed his stance. He confirmed to Sky Sports F1: “I’ve reviewed it, I think I’ve changed my view. I can’t really put that on Nico. In the heat of the moment, obviously pretty bothered what I saw there, a lot of incidents in Turn 1. But I don’t think that’s on Nico.”
Hulkenberg responded to the situation during a media session in Austin after qualifying in 11th place for the grand prix. He explained his actions during the crash, saying:
“Yeah, no, I didn’t [have anywhere to go]. We were all obviously racing. Fernando [Alonso] was kind of taking the inside, but I knew he was diving in, but I didn’t know where he was exactly. He was in a blind spot at that moment, so I wanted to leave some space for him. And then Oscar turned in very suddenly and aggressively. I wanted to cut back for the exit, but obviously, I was there. Yeah, unfortunate for all of us.”
When informed that Brown had retracted his earlier comments, Hulkenberg said: “Good. So we’re all in agreement then. Still frustrating and disappointing, because the car was strong and if we had kept it there, we would have scored points. I’m pretty confident and sure about that, but yeah, would have, could have, should have.”
Despite starting from fourth in the sprint race, Hulkenberg managed to recover from the crash and finished in 13th place.
Photos from United States GP – Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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Fans
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George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing
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George Russell, Mercedes
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George Russell, Mercedes
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Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Franco Colapinto, Alpine
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing
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Flavio Briatore, Alpine F1 Executive Advisor
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Mika Hakkinen
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Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber
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Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing
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Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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George Russell, Mercedes
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Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing
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Lando Norris, McLaren
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Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber
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Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Oscar Piastri, McLaren
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Helmut Marko, Red Bull Racing
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Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber
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Lando Norris, McLaren
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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The awards for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place finishers of the Sprint race
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
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Pierre Gasly, Alpine
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing
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Red Bull Racing crew members perform a pit stop with a LEGO car
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
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Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing
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George Russell, Mercedes
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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Racing Bulls team member on the grid with cooling equipment
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Starting grid
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Lando Norris, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren crash
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Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren crash
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Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren
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Lando Norris, McLaren crash
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Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren crash
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Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren crash
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Lando Norris, McLaren crash
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Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team, Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber
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Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team crash
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Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team crash
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Fans
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
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Lando Norris, McLaren
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Lando Norris, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
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Lando Norris, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lando Norris, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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