Nico Hulkenberg has unleashed a storm of controversy following his disastrous spin at the Singapore Grand Prix, placing the blame squarely on the shoulders of rival driver Franco Colapinto. The Sauber ace claimed that Colapinto braked a staggering 100 meters earlier than expected, leading to a chaotic encounter that saw Hulkenberg’s race go from bad to worse.
The incident unfolded on lap 43 as Hulkenberg was fiercely battling for 14th place against Colapinto. In a bid to overtake, Hulkenberg clipped the rear of the Alpine car at Turn 8, resulting in severe damage to his front wing. However, the details of the incident paint a different picture: Colapinto was already ahead at the apex and positioned on the inside, meaning he was under no obligation to give Hulkenberg any space, according to established racing protocols.
The drama didn’t end there. Just a lap later, as Hulkenberg approached Turn 7, he was caught off guard by Colapinto’s unexpected braking, sending him spinning out of control. The veteran driver returned to the pits, finishing a dismal 20th, even falling victim to a last-lap overtaking maneuver by teammate Pierre Gasly.
“Pretty big one actually, lucky not to hit anything,” Hulkenberg lamented, his frustration evident. “Franco braked 100 meters early, which I’m not sure why. Probably wanted to surprise me somehow – and he succeeded with that.” The German’s bitter laughter underscored his irritation, as he added, “But the problem is, when you get close, the rear downforce just drops away completely. The rear axle locked up instantly, and there’s nothing you can do then.”
In contrast, Colapinto appeared unfazed by the incident, deflecting the blame back to Hulkenberg. “I don’t know, I just saw him in the mirror spinning. I can’t tell you, he should tell you for himself,” he stated, maintaining a calm demeanor amid the storm.
Despite the chaos, Colapinto managed to secure a 16th-place finish, marking a notable achievement as it was the fourth time he outperformed teammate Gasly in races where both cars finished. However, the Alpine team is now grappling with a five-race streak without scoring any points, leaving them in a precarious position in the championship standings.
Reflecting on his performance, Colapinto described the day as “very long and tough,” expressing frustration over the lack of pace in his car. “We did our best, with a strange strategy to try and make it work – and do something different to the others – but it didn’t work,” he explained, referencing his unique soft/medium tire strategy, which ultimately fell short compared to the more conventional tactics of his competitors.
“Just a lot of degradation in the car, the tyres falling apart, and nothing really clicking together. It’s tough out there; it’s not what we want. We just need to keep pushing, but it’s definitely very difficult at the moment,” Colapinto concluded, encapsulating the struggles faced by the Alpine team.
As tensions rise and accusations fly in the wake of the Singapore Grand Prix, the F1 community is left to wonder: will Hulkenberg and Colapinto’s rivalry escalate further, or can they find common ground in their pursuit of glory in the high-octane world of Formula 1? One thing is for sure – the heat is on, and the race for redemption is just heating up.