Hulkenberg set for five place grid drop

Renault’s Nico Hulkenberg is set to take a five place grid drop for this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix after the team had to change his gearbox out of sequence.

Under the rules a driver has to use a gearbox for six consecutive races, and Hulkenberg had not yet reached that threshold.

This will come as a blow to Hulkenberg, as he had been the best of the midfield runners in Friday practice and had found himself in good form going into the weekend, after an impressive performance in Silverstone. Added to this blow is the fact that the Hungaroring is one of the trickiest places on the calendar to overtake, so he may find it more difficult than usual to make up the lost positions.

It should be a boost for underfire driver, Jolyon Palmer who has yet to outqualify Hulkenberg this season, and gives him the best platform to have a good result with Robert Kubica waiting in the wings to take Palmer’s drive.

The FIA’s statement on Hulkenberg’s penalty read as such:”[Hulkenberg] did finish the last race in Silverstone and this gearbox change was before the six consecutive Events expired. As this is not in compliance with Article 23.5a of the 2017 Formula One Sporting Regulations, I am referring this matter to the stewards for their consideration. The team informed the technical delegate about the gearbox change on Wednesday, 19th July 2017, at 12:11 hours."