Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

Australia

Hulkenberg says Raikkonen gave him no room in clash

Nico Hulkenberg says he doesn't know where Kimi Raikkonen expected him to go, during their late-race clash at the Mexican Grand Prix.

Nico Hulkenberg (GER)Sahara Force India F1 Team VJM09

Nico Hulkenberg (GER)Sahara Force India F1 Team VJM09

XPB Images

Nico Hulkenberg, Sahara Force India F1 VJM09
Nico Hulkenberg, Sahara Force India F1 VJM09
Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari SF16-H
Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari SF16-H, Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari SF16-H
Nico Hulkenberg, Sahara Force India F1 VJM09
Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari SF16-H, Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari SF16-H

With four laps to go, the Force India driver was battling for sixth against Raikkonen – who was benefiting from much fresher rubber.

Raikkonen went around the outside of Hulkenberg at Turn 4 and, as the pair went through the corner, the German got squeezed on to the inside kerb and spun.

Speaking about what happened, Hulkenberg said he had been lucky to avoid contact because he had not been given enough room.

"It could have have been an accident, where I could have ran into him and we both have substantial damage," said Hulkenberg.

"I was obviously defending, braking on the inside and on the dirty part of the circuit on very old, worn tyres, absolutely on the limit.

"He comes around the outside on fresh boots and just turns in on me and I'm like 'Dude, where do you expect me to go?' I can't just disappear in the air.

"So he could have given me more room for sure. I think it was frustrating anyway to be stuck there."

Hulkenberg admitted that Force India never really had the pace to take the fight to Ferrari, and that his focus had only been on Williams.

"We knew realistically that the Ferraris are not our race and our cup of tea, but the focus was Williams," said Hulkenberg, who eventually finished seventh.

"So from our point of view we did a good job today, and maximised what we could.

"It was a shame what Kimi did at the end, but I was on old worn tyres, and obviously he had much fresher tyres and a car advantage. I tried to hang on to it but no chance."

Be part of Motorsport community

Join the conversation
Previous article Brawn to return to F1 as sporting boss - report
Next article Vettel spared further FIA action following multiple apologies

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

Australia