Nico Hulkenberg may not have won Sunday’s season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, but his pragmatic drive for sixth secured increased championship prize money and a controversial post-race row.
The German driver ran off circuit and gained an advantage when he passed Sergio Perez’s Force India early in the race – a move that resulted in a stewards’ investigation.
Most observers expected him to be forced to hand his place back to Perez, but instead he was handed a five seconds penalty and went on o finish sixth.
It was a result that was good enough for his Renault team to leap ahead of Toro Rosso and take sixth place in the constructors’ championship.
That success, estimated by paddock experts to be worth at least an additional 7.2 million euros ($8.6mn), left Force India boss Otmar Szafneuer enraged.
He said: "It makes a mockery of the sport to have it so inconsistent.
"Hulkenberg cuts a corner, the FIA don’t do anything about it and guess what? They gain a place in the constructors’ championship, which means more money and more competitiveness next year."
Renault chief Cyril Abiteboul said: “There was a penalty decided and we served the penalty…”
Hulkenberg said he felt the penalty was fair.
“It’s always different car, different perspective. I saw he was locking up and running wide. I had nowhere to go… I think the five seconds was fair.”
The two drivers were team-mates at Force India last year.
Renault had started the race with a four points deficit to Toro Rosso, but finished it in front by four.
Source:AFP
GMT 14:03 2018 Monday ,15 January
Meo wins Dakar motorcycling eighth stageGMT 19:54 2018 Saturday ,13 January
Asia take surprise lead over Europe in EurAsia CupGMT 13:17 2018 Wednesday ,10 January
Richardson's late strike lifts Heat over JazzGMT 17:00 2018 Monday ,08 January
Despres takes overall Dakar lead after timing confusionGMT 15:48 2018 Sunday ,07 January
Defending champion Sunderland wins Dakar moto openerGMT 14:46 2018 Sunday ,07 January
Svitolina crushes Sasnovich in Brisbane finalGMT 19:52 2018 Saturday ,06 January
Svitolina stuns Pliskova to reach first Brisbane finalGMT 18:58 2018 Thursday ,04 January
French Open champ Ostapenko suffers defeat in ShenzhenMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor