Hulkenberg avoidance sparks praise after chaotic Dutch Grand Prix start
Nico Hulkenberg avoidance was on display when he managed to steer clear of teammate Gabriel Bortoleto during the opening lap in the Dutch Grand Prix, a manoeuvre hailed as “spectacular” by former champion Nico Rosberg.
The track had dried before the start, yet small wet patches still lingered, forcing drivers to react in real time.
Max Verstappen hit a damp spot on the final corner, spinning into the barriers and producing a cloud of tyre smoke. Bortoleto had a similar fate, turning 360 degrees but managing to get back on track.
After the smoke cleared, Hulkenberg found Bortoleto ahead. Rosberg observed that the German “went in; he knew more or less where Bortoleto was, where his trajectory was going,” noting the white‑wall hazard that might have led to a serious crash.
Hulkenberg later said, “It was tricky and dicey. I saw it all happen almost in slow motion at that speed. Turn 14 was still completely wet, and I had to wait as long as possible before deciding which way to go.”
The wet Turn 14 still poses a challenge for slick‑tyred cars, and the debris from Bortoleto’s spin could have sealed the incident if Hulkenberg had reacted slower.
With a finish of eighth, Hulkenberg earned four points for Audi, while Bortoleto capped the sequence with 13th place.
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