Nico Hulkenberg questions stewards’ decision on Carlos Sainz’s 10-second penalty at Zandvoort. Nico Hulkenberg, ahead of the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, defended Carlos Sainz.

Italian GP, Nico Hulkenberg contests Carlos Sainz’s penalty

Nico Hulkenberg, during media day at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza, stated that he considered Carlos Sainz’s penalty unfair. On Thursday, as part of the traditional drivers’ interviews, the German reflected on the stewards’ decisions in the Netherlands. In particular, he discussed the 10-second penalty given to Sainz following his contact with Liam Lawson at Tarzan corner. Hulkenberg stood up for the spirit of on-track battles.

“I don’t understand the penalty given to Carlos. Certain overtakes are born from calculated risks, and that is exactly what makes racing exciting,” Nico Hulkenberg explained.

Nico Hulkenberg: “I didn’t want to see any penalty”

The Haas driver then drew a parallel between the Sainz–Lawson incident and the battle between Charles Leclerc and George Russell, which went unpunished.

“In that case they decided to wait until after the race, and in the end there was no consequence. But for those watching, and also for us drivers, it feels strange: why do some moves immediately get a 10-second penalty and others don’t? In the end it’s all racing. From a fan’s perspective I enjoyed the overtake, it was risky but spectacular. Personally, I didn’t want to see any penalty at all.”

Monza is a track unlike any other, and Nico Hulkenberg knows it

Nico Hulkenberg also highlighted that he has never driven his current Formula 1 car with a low-downforce package. The German driver pointed out how moving from Zandvoort to a completely different layout such as Monza changes the whole behavior of the car.

“Montreal goes a little bit in this direction, but it’s nothing like what we have here. I don’t have any feelings to share, it’s all new. It’s already a challenge just to adapt. The chicanes and corners like Ascari and Parabolica remain very technical, even with the long straights that give the track its great flow. Monza is a classic, iconic event. I love the park, I love the energy of the Italian fans. Entering the circuit is always a special moment.”