Nico Hulkenberg found himself in an unfortunate situation during the Qatar Grand Prix as he admitted to starting from the wrong grid spot, incurring a 10-second penalty. The mishap occurred due to last-minute grid changes related to Carlos Sainz’s absence.
The race began with only 18 cars on the grid, as Sergio Perez had to start from the pit lane following parc ferme rule violations by Red Bull. Additionally, Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz was unable to participate in the race due to a fuel cell leak in his SF-23. The team determined that there wasn’t enough time to repair the issue, resulting in Sainz’s non-participation.
