Hulkenberg says: 'Hamilton knew that and that's why he stayed behind'

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5 December 2021 at 21:37
  • GPblog.com

Nico Hulkenberg is sure that the incident between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton has to do with the DRS detection line is located. The German said after the Grand Prix in Saudi Arabia that he thinks the number one and two of the world championship knew very well what they were doing.

"I'm sure it had something to do with the DRS, because the DRS trigger point is before the last corner. Max wanted to pass Lewis before the DRS trigger point, so he had DRS afterwards and could overtake Lewis right back. Those are the strategy games", Hulkenberg analysed in front of the cameras of the Austrian television station ServusTV.

Did Hamilton know or not?

The former Formula One driver implies that Hamilton was aware that Verstappen was going to give his position back. "Lewis knew that of course, that's why he stayed behind, but then it became too tight. They both played it too extreme, took everything out. But from Lewis' perspective, I can't quite understand why he didn't go straight past and continue his race."

Hamilton himself says he was unaware at the time that Verstappen intended to give his leading position back to the Mercedes driver. Both Hamilton and Verstappen have since told their side of the story to the stewards.