“Just the dynamic of the sport”: Nico Hulkenberg rues detrimental Abu Dhabi penalty
Nico Hulkenberg voiced his disappointment over the penalty he received at the Abu Dhabi GP, which he believes cost him a chance at his elusive first F1 podium and ultimately hindered Haas’ fight for sixth place in the Constructors’ Championship, which was eventually claimed by Alpine. Speaking to media, including Sportskeeda, the German driver reflected on the missed opportunity that overshadowed his final race with Haas.
Hulkenberg had qualified in an impressive fourth position, offering a rare opportunity to contend for a podium finish. However, a three-place grid penalty for overtaking two cars at the pit exit, in violation of the race director’s instructions, pushed him back to seventh on the starting grid. The penalty thwarted his momentum and he eventually crossed the line in eighth.
Analyzing the broader championship picture, Hulkenberg admitted that starting ahead of Alpine in Abu Dhabi could have been pivotal in Haas’ bid for sixth in the standings. He also acknowledged that the team’s chances had likely slipped earlier in the season, particularly during the Brazilian and Qatar GPs.
Hulkenberg praised Alpine’s late-season surge, noting their impactful upgrades in Austin and Mexico and their double podium in Brazil which cemented their advantage. He specifically highlighted Pierre Gasly’s impressive performance in Abu Dhabi which left Haas with little room to capitalize. The German credited Alpine’s consistent progression, which made surpassing them in the championship a formidable challenge.
Asked by Sportskeeda how the penalty affected his chances of a potential podium in Abu Dhabi, Nico Hulkenberg said:
“Yeah, it was not fun, not great. You know, the circumstances kind of pushed us in a way into it and then you know. But, when that happened, you didn't know things that we know two minutes later. So you know it's just the dynamic of the sport and then unfortunately we, yeah we came out the wrong side of it yesterday. So that's really unfortunate and cost that one position over Pierre today. But you know even if we would have finished seventh and him eighth obviously it would have not changed anything in the championship.”
“So that one we really kind of, it slipped through our hands in Brazil unfortunately and that obviously they took a huge chunk out of us and in Qatar too. I think their progress rate has been very impressive in the last quarter of the season and Pierre has, you know, also driven amazingly, no mistakes, very consistent as we know him. So yeah, fair play to them. It's obviously a shame to not quite have got the championship position over the line,” he added.
Nico Hulkenberg was glad to be a part of Haas’ progression up the grid and end the season on a high
Nico Hulkenberg expressed pride in being a part of Haas’ journey from backmarkers to strong midfield contenders. Reflecting on their progress, he acknowledged the team’s transformation after a challenging 2023 season where they finished in tenth place. The 37-year-old driver credited Ayao Komatsu for spearheading many of the changes that fueled Haas’ improvement throughout 2024.
Hulkenberg believes the team is on the right trajectory to become a consistent midfield force in the future. Leaving the team on a high note, he described their turnaround as a significant achievement and was pleased to have contributed to their progress during his time with the American-owned outfit.
When asked how important it was to leave Haas on a high in the final race, Nico Hulkenberg said:
“Very good. I mean you know, you always you know forget quickly where we were last year you know, and how down we were Sundays and how much yeah sh*t we had to eat. You know it was tough last year and to have come out and turned you know that situation around like we did you know like we did, it's a hell of an achievement from everyone in the team and I really enjoyed being part of that. It's been very enjoyable with everyone.”
He added:
“I think Ayao has done a fantastic job this year as TP [team principal]. So many things came at him and he's really worked through all of them, it's been impressive and good. So yeah, just leave happy. You know, they're a strong contender if they keep working like this. I know they’re a serious contender in the future and probably in and around the fight for P5.”
Nico Hulkenberg concluded the 2024 season, his final one with Haas, after scoring 41 points. The Banbury-based team amassed a total of 58 points to secure seventh place in the Constructors’ Championship, with the German finishing 11th in the Drivers’ standings.
Looking ahead to 2025, the former Force India driver will embark on a new chapter as part of Audi F1. The German will race for the rebranded Stake F1 team, which officially transitions to Audi for the upcoming season.