Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: Nico Hülkenberg handed a three-place grid penalty

Nico Hülkenberg saved his best qualifying session of the 2024 campaign for the season finale, putting his VF-24 onto the second row alongside Carlos Sainz Jr. with a P4 performance at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

But the Haas driver will not start there.

After qualifying fourth, Hülkenberg was given a three-place grid penalty following the session for overtaking on the pit lane exit road during qualifying. During Q1 Hülkenberg passed Alpine driver Jack Doohan at the exit, putting him at risk of an investigation. Race officials summoned Hülkenberg to meet with them at 7:50 p.m. local time.

On Friday the event notes were published, which included this language about passing on the pit lane exit. (The document itself is available as Document 13 at this link):

Following the meeting with the stewards they issued their decision. According to the decision, Hülkenberg violated this directive:

According to the decision, at the hearing Hülkenberg conceded that he violated the instructions, but “stated that he had no other option but to breach the rules in order to get a lap in” due to the unique configuration of the pit lane exit in Abu Dhabi, which is a tunnel that takes drivers under the track before rejoining the circuit.

The stewards noted the unique layout, as well as the team’s position on pit lane, pose challenges. Still, according to race officials, the penalty was appropriate. “[T]he position of the team’s garages limits their options to send the cars out on track, this can never be used as an excuse to breach any regulations,” wrote the stewards. “The prohibition of overtaking in certain areas as the pit lane or, in this case, the pit exit, is implemented to prevent potentially dangerous situations and therefore the Stewards determine that a grid drop is warranted in this case.”

The penalty mirrors a moment from last season. At the 2023 Canadian Grand Prix Hülkenberg took advantage of some wet conditions and qualified second, but was dropped to fifth after being handed a three-place grid penalty for failing to slow down under red flag conditions.

This penalty comes at a critical moment for Haas, as the team is locked in a tight fight with Alpine for sixth place in the Constructors’ Championship. Hülkenberg was set to start fourth, right in front of Pierre Gasly, the lead Alpine driver who qualified sixth.

Now, Hülkenberg will start behind Gasly.

Haas trails Alpine by five points — 59-54 — with the season finale on tap tomorrow.