4 days ago
FIA Issue Ruling on Hülkenberg and Stroll Pit Lane Collision
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
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Sauber driver Nico Hulkenberg was handed a decision on his collision with Aston Martin's Lance Stroll.
At the start of Q1 on Saturday, Hulkenberg lined up his car to get out quickly at the beginning of the session.
He put one of his wheels in the fast lane as he waited for the car in front to make space.
Stroll continued forward and made contact with the Sauber, resulting in front wing damage to the Aston Martin and prompting an investigation by the FIA.
Nico Hulkenberg of Germany driving the (27) Kick Sauber C45 Ferrari in the Pitlane during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Belgium at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on July 25, 2025 in Spa, Belgium.
Nico Hulkenberg of Germany driving the (27) Kick Sauber C45 Ferrari in the Pitlane during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Belgium at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on July 25, 2025 in Spa, Belgium.
Photo byThe official found Stroll already had the right of way, and Hulkenberg was at fault for the collision, though no penalty was issued to either driver for the contact.
In document 49 from the Belgian Grand Prix, the FIA gave its explanation of the events.
"The Race Director's notes state 'any car driven to the end of the Pit Lane prior to the start... of a session must form up in a line in the fast lane and leave in the order they got there.
"It is noted that the car will be considered to be in the fast lane when a tyre has crossed the solid white line separating the fast lane from the inner lane. In this context 'crossing' means that all of the tyre should be beyond the far the line.....
"In this case, no tyre of Car 27 complied with the above prior to the start of the session, in which case, Car 18 is considered to have priority in the line. Therefore Car 27 should have merged into the line when there was a 'suitable gap' and in this case no such gap existed.
"At all times the driver of Car 27 was following team instructions either by radio or hand signal from a team member.
"Accordingly, Car 27 breached Article 34.8 and the penalty is applied to the team.
"In relation to the subsequent collision that occurred, both cars appeared to move, under instructions from their team, at the same time and inadvertently collided. We consider that no driver was wholly or predominantly to blame and hence take no further action in relation to Causing a Collision."
Belgium Grand Prix Qualifying Results
Lando Norris (McLaren) Oscar Piastri (McLaren) Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) Max Verstappen (Red Bull) Alex Albon (Williams) George Russell (Mercedes) Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull) Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber) Esteban Ocon (Haas) Ollie Bearman (Haas) Pierre Gasly (Alpine) Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber) Carlos Sainz (Williams) Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) Franco Colapinto (Alpine) Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
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