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F1 Singapore GP: Bemused Hulkenberg counts inadvertent cost of ‘best start’

Nico Hulkenberg found it difficult to contain his disappointment as he paid an unfortunate price for his excellent start in the Singapore Grand Prix after being squeezed into a spin just seconds into the race.

The German started eighth and got a superb start from the lights, but with Max Verstappen two rows further up getting away badly, it would force Carlos Sainz between them to also jink to the middle to avoid the Red Bull ahead of him.

With Hulkenberg finding himself bottled-necked between Sainz to his left and Daniil Kvyat to the right, contact at the left-rear would pitch him into a spin that sent him across Verstappen's path and into the wall.

Though lucky not to collect any other cars, the heavy impact with the pit-wall would leave a bemused Hulkenberg with heavy damage on his Force India.

"It's extremely disappointing to end my race in the barrier after just 50 metres, especially because I had made such a good start - probably my best getaway off the line this year.

"I went for the gap between the two Toro Rossos, which was there, but obviously things got very tight. I had Daniil [Kvyat] on my right and Carlos [Sainz] on my left, and Carlos hit my left rear, which sent me into the wall.

"I think all the avoiding actions led to the gap I was in disappearing. So it was a really frustrating end for me, especially because all the good work we did on Friday and Saturday counted for nothing."

Despite Hulkenberg's disaster, team-mate Sergio Perez's charge from 17th to eighth has seen Force India regain fourth in the constructors' standings over Williams. 

Zdroj: crash.net