2016 Components 1 champion Nico Rosberg has lauded Nico Hulkenberg’s “spectacular” reactions to keep away from a high-speed collision together with his Audi team-mate Gabriel Bortoleto throughout a chaotic opening lap of the Dutch Grand Prix.
Whereas the rain had stopped earlier than the beginning of the race, there have been nonetheless some moist patches on the monitor. As Pink Bull’s Max Verstappen made his method across the banked remaining nook, he hit a humid spot and crashed into the limitations. Bortoleto suffered the same incident however managed to proceed after a 360-degree spin.
As his Audi team-mate spun in entrance of him, Hulkenberg discovered himself in a cloud of tyre smoke, and when it dissipated, he was met with Bortoleto in entrance of him.
Talking throughout the Sky Sports activities F1 broadcast, Rosberg identified how the 39-year-old managed to keep away from a giant crash.
“It simply exhibits how fast these drivers react. Hulkenberg went in; he knew roughly the place Bortoleto was, the place his trajectory was going,” Rosberg defined. “He has a white wall, however then on the final second sees him and bam, reacts and avoids [a crash].
“It was a spectacular response from Hulkenberg, so I do not assume it was simply luck. I believe there was additionally some talent there to keep away from that large crash.”
Hulkenberg went on to assert his finest results of the season with eighth place and 4 helpful factors for Audi. Bortoleto efficiently recovered from his spin to complete thirteenth.
Nico Hülkenberg, Audi
Photograph by: Eric Le Galliot
The German driver described the near-miss whereas talking to Sky Sports activities Germany: “Yeah, it was difficult and dicey. Naturally, I noticed all of it occur nearly in sluggish movement at that pace.
“However Flip 14 was merely nonetheless fully moist and, on slicks, it’s kind of of a thriller, in fact. I noticed him lose the automobile—like I stated, sluggish movement and at pace. However then you do not know precisely whether or not he will slide up or slide down, what is going on to occur.
“And it was clear to me: hey, I’ve to attempt to in some way get round this. On high of that, there was all of the particles and the smoke from Max forward. So it appeared wild and spectacular. I slowed down and tried to attend so long as doable earlier than deciding which method to go. A sheet of paper would have fitted between us, however not way more.”
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