Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren, initially blamed Nico Hulkenberg for the contact that caused both McLaren cars to go off track during the US GP Sprint. However, after reviewing the footage, Brown reversed his stance. Nico Hulkenberg did not hesitate to respond following qualifying.
“No, I didn’t have any space. We were all fighting. Oscar suddenly came in, and I tried to give room. It was unlucky for all of us,” Nico Hulkenberg said.
The Sauber driver’s perspective
The German driver explained that the incident was complex: Fernando Alonso was already on the inside line, and Nico Hulkenberg couldn’t see exactly where Oscar Piastri would go.
“My view was limited. Oscar turned aggressively. I tried to move back to the outside, but I was already there. It’s frustrating because the car was strong. If we had managed to hold our line, we could have scored points,” he added.
When informed that Brown had reconsidered his statement, Nico Hulkenberg replied briefly: “Good. Then we’re all on the same page.”
A controversial situation for McLaren
The incident caused both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri to be eliminated on the first lap of the Sprint, with the two cars sustaining irreversible damage. Initially, Brown had criticized the leading drivers for “amateurish driving” and accused Nico Hulkenberg of “going into Oscar for no reason.” The review and subsequent retraction highlight how emotions often shape initial judgments in Formula 1. The stewards ruled the incident as a racing incident, with no penalties, although responsibility still rests entirely with Oscar Piastri.
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