Nico Hulkenberg receives a three-place grid penalty for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix following a pit lane exit infringement during qualifying, dropping him from fourth to seventh position.

The penalty comes at a crucial time as Haas and Alpine battle for sixth place in the constructors' championship, with approximately $10 million in prize money at stake. Alpine currently leads Haas by five points heading into the final race.

The stewards penalized Hulkenberg for overtaking another car in the pit exit road against race director instructions. Despite Hulkenberg claiming he had no alternative, the stewards maintained that garage positioning cannot excuse regulatory breaches.

Pierre Gasly moves up to fifth position following the penalty. Before the penalty, Hulkenberg had expressed confidence in his car's performance, having secured a surprising P4 in qualifying. He remains optimistic about securing points for Haas, acknowledging it will be a close battle with Alpine.

Gasly, who qualified strongly for Alpine, notes they have the advantage of being five points ahead, putting more pressure on Haas to perform. He expects significant tire degradation and graining during the race but believes Alpine has the pace to compete effectively with Haas.

The stage is set for an intense battle between the two teams in the season finale, with both championship position and substantial financial implications on the line.

Related Articles

Previous Articles