Hulkenberg punished for causing Alonso-Leclerc smash in Spa

Hulkenberg punished for causing Alonso-Leclerc smash in Spa

Joas van Wingerden

Sunday 26 August 2018 18:11

Nico Hulkenberg will serve a 10-place grid penalty at the Italian Grand Prix as punishment for causing the huge collision between Fernando Alonso and Charles Leclerc on lap one of the Belgian Grand Prix. Hulkenberg admitted fault after sending Alonso airborne and onto the cockpit of Leclerc's Sauber at Spa-Francorchamps.

Hulkenberg conceded in post-race interviews that he had misjudged the braking zone after starting 18th on the grid due to engine penalties.

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Leclerc was saved from serious injury by the halo device as Alonso's McLaren thumped down onto the right-hand side of his cockpit.

The incident evoked memories of a similar crash at the start of the 2012 race at Spa-Francorchamps, with Alonso quick to point out that the guilty party on that occasion - Romain Grosjean - was given a one-race ban over the crash.

VIDEO: Halo to the rescue in CRAZY Spa crash
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The stewards' report read: "The driver of car 27 stated that he completely misjudged the situation and freely admitted it was his mistake."

Explaining the decision not to punish Hulkenberg in the same way as Grosjean, the statement added: "It should be noted that since 2014 the FIA has introduced the penalty points system which takes into account previous offences by a driver and can lead to a race suspension if 12 points are accumulated within a 12-month period. This system was not in force when an incident not dissimilar to this, occurred in 2012."