Strange rule sees driver get disqualified from Grand Prix in F1 first in 17 years
Nico Hulkenberg has become the first driver to be disqualified during a Formula One race since 2007. The Haas driver was shown the black flag during lap 27 of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix on Sunday. X / @SkySportsF1Nico Hulkenberg was disqualified from the Sao Paulo Grand Prix for outside assistance[/caption] Hulkenberg had started the race 18th on the grid but was prevented from taking the chequered flag in Brazil. Instead, he was disqualified for receiving outside assistance after being pushed back onto the track by race marshals. However, the 37-year-old did not realise his race was over at first after returning to the paddock following a red flag. Sky Sports’ Ted Kravitz revealed the ‘awkward’ scenes in the Haas garage live on air. He explained: “No one’s told him. Nico Hulkenberg is five metres away from me, sitting on a chair, talking to Ayao Kumatsu and Gary Gannon, his engineer. “Only now has Gannon put his headphones back on and is getting the news that his driver has been disqualified. “Gary Gannon’s face is a picture, he can’t understand it. Ayao Kumatsu doesn’t have his headphones on and Nico Hulkenberg doesn’t have his headphones on. “He doesn’t know he’s just been disqualified. This is so awkward. Hulkenberg looks quite happy with himself.” Hulkenberg’s black flag made him the first driver to be disqualified during a race since the 2007 Canadian Grand Prix. Both Felipe Massa and Giancarlo Fisichella were black flagged in Montreal for identical infringements. GettyHulkenberg is the first driver to be black flagged during a race for 17 years[/caption] The pair exited the pit lane when the red light was on 51 laps into the race. Sunday’s race had also seen dramatic delays due to the weather in Sao Paulo. Qualification was postponed on Saturday and moved to the morning of race day at Interlagos as a result of the adverse conditions. Away from the disqualification, Max Verstappen pulled off a stunning comeback to win at Interlagos. The Red Bull driver started the race in 17th due to a five-place grid penalty. However, he finished ahead of the Alpine pair of Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly to strengthen his grip on the Drivers’ Championship.
Nico Hulkenberg has become the first driver to be disqualified during a Formula One race since 2007.
The Haas driver was shown the black flag during lap 27 of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix on Sunday.
Hulkenberg had started the race 18th on the grid but was prevented from taking the chequered flag in Brazil.
Instead, he was disqualified for receiving outside assistance after being pushed back onto the track by race marshals.
However, the 37-year-old did not realise his race was over at first after returning to the paddock following a red flag.
Sky Sports’ Ted Kravitz revealed the ‘awkward’ scenes in the Haas garage live on air.
He explained: “No one’s told him. Nico Hulkenberg is five metres away from me, sitting on a chair, talking to Ayao Kumatsu and Gary Gannon, his engineer.
“Only now has Gannon put his headphones back on and is getting the news that his driver has been disqualified.
“Gary Gannon’s face is a picture, he can’t understand it. Ayao Kumatsu doesn’t have his headphones on and Nico Hulkenberg doesn’t have his headphones on.
“He doesn’t know he’s just been disqualified. This is so awkward. Hulkenberg looks quite happy with himself.”
Hulkenberg’s black flag made him the first driver to be disqualified during a race since the 2007 Canadian Grand Prix.
Both Felipe Massa and Giancarlo Fisichella were black flagged in Montreal for identical infringements.
The pair exited the pit lane when the red light was on 51 laps into the race.
Sunday’s race had also seen dramatic delays due to the weather in Sao Paulo.
Qualification was postponed on Saturday and moved to the morning of race day at Interlagos as a result of the adverse conditions.
Away from the disqualification, Max Verstappen pulled off a stunning comeback to win at Interlagos.
The Red Bull driver started the race in 17th due to a five-place grid penalty.
However, he finished ahead of the Alpine pair of Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly to strengthen his grip on the Drivers’ Championship.
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