Nico Hulkenberg accused Sergio Perez and Kevin Magnussen of not taking calculated risks in the collision that occurred during the Monaco Grand Prix of Formula 1. Haas, in an attempt to recover from disqualifications, had their drivers starting at the back, but both cars were eliminated in the first lap. Magnussen tried to overtake Perez on the uphill towards Massenet, but the space narrowed and their wheels collided. This caused Perez to spin at high speed and hit the barriers, subsequently colliding with Hulkenberg. Hulkenberg expressed his frustration at being involved in an incident in which he had no part and believes he was just two tenths of a second away from avoiding Perez’s Red Bull. He stated that the collision could have been easily avoided and that he was disappointed because of the team’s energy and time investment, making the situation frustrating.
Hulkenberg acknowledged Magnussen’s ambition but argued that both Magnussen and Perez put themselves in risky situations. When asked if he could sympathize with Magnussen for taking such a risk, Hulkenberg replied that, while he understood, no one has ever won the Monaco Grand Prix on the first lap. He emphasized the importance of taking calculated risks that make sense and weighing the risk-reward issue.
Perez blamed Magnussen and expressed surprise that the stewards did not investigate the incident or impose any penalties. However, Magnussen, who is close to receiving a race suspension due to penalty points, refused to take responsibility for the collision. He suggested that Perez should have given him more space and claimed that he had a significant portion of the front of his car ahead of Perez’s rear wheel. Magnussen believed that Perez should have left space for a car on his right, especially since there was no one on his left and a clear track to his left. He described the situation as not good and expressed his disappointment at seeing both cars involved in the accident.
