Nico Hulkenberg: 'Insane' Turn 16 tarmac cost Renault big in German GP

Nico Hulkenberg

Hulkenberg: 'Insane' Turn 16 tarmac cost Renault big in German GP

Not a happy homecoming for Nico.

Martin Macdonald

Sunday 28 July 2019 18:56

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Nico Hulkenberg has lamented the slick tarmac which is placed just off-track at Turn 16 of the Hockenheimring, calling it “insane” after he crashed out of his home race in Germany.

After several other drivers had retired, including team-mate Daniel Ricciardo, Hulkenberg found himself in contention for a podium position - a feat which he has never achieved before.

However, like many other drivers on the day including Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc, and Valtteri Bottas, the final turn proved to be damaging to his chances as he lost control and slid over the gravel and into the barrier. Throughout the race, it was clear this section of the track was troublesome in the wet conditions.

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“I don't know what to say. Fantastic effort from the team, from myself. Then, I lost the car for one moment in the wrong corner in Turn 16,” he said after the race.

“It's not normal asphalt. It's some kind of ice-skating track. Once I was there, I couldn't control the car.

“I would be accelerating rather than decelerating, and you saw the result - I slid into the wall.

“It's hard to swallow. Sorry for the team, they did a great job, especially today with race strategy. It was all good up until that point, but you have to do all the laps, I guess.

LAP 40/64

Heartbreak for @HulkHulkenberg as he crashes into the barriers and can't recover ?

With a first F1 podium in sight, his race is over#F1 #GermanGP ?? pic.twitter.com/cS8IybB7sT
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 28, 2019

“I think a few other colleagues had similar issues there. I think there will be a discussion. Usually, we are safety concerned etc. etc. - but that is not even about safety, that is just silly. It is a completely different tarmac.”

The German insists the turn was fine in dry conditions, but that it became unmanageable after it soaked up the rain.

“Dry it is fine, but wet, it was insane,” he added.

“Any other corner, any other track, you go off and you go back on and nothing happens.

“But today this cost us a big result.”