Nico Hulkenberg couldn’t resist some light-hearted banter after the Belgian Grand Prix Sprint when he jokingly referred to Fernando Alonso’s early exit from the race as “karma” for an earlier incident between the two drivers. The playful exchange occurred as Alonso exited the pits and appeared to push Hulkenberg towards the grass, prompting the Haas driver to lift off the throttle and take avoiding action.
The incident led to both drivers being summoned to the stewards for a review, and Alonso received a formal warning for his actions. However, the Spanish driver’s race came to an unfortunate end when he lost control of his Aston Martin at the fast double left-hander of Pouhon and spun into the barriers.
Speaking to the media after the Sprint, Alonso candidly admitted that the spin was his own error and took responsibility for the premature end to his race. Despite the challenging day, Alonso remained hopeful of securing points in the main Grand Prix race on Sunday.
Alonso’s birthday on Saturday was marked by a series of unfortunate events, including a red flag that prevented him from setting a qualifying lap in Q2. This combined with the Sprint incident made for a challenging day for the two-time World Champion.
While Alonso’s on-track mishap brought some light-hearted banter from Hulkenberg, it’s evident that both drivers are professionals and approach the sport with the utmost respect for each other’s abilities and sportsmanship. The incident will be noted, but the focus will now shift to the main race where both drivers will aim to maximize their performance and secure valuable points for their respective teams.
