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Nico Hulkenberg’s Disqualification: Sauber’s Investigation Continues

The Sauber Formula 1 team is actively seeking clarity regarding the disqualification of Nico Hulkenberg from the Bahrain Grand Prix. Hulkenberg finished the race in 13th place but was removed from the results after it was determined that his skid plank’s thickness measured only 8.4mm, below the required minimum of 9mm.

This incident marks the second such disqualification of the season, following Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari, which was also disqualified for excessive wear on its skid plank in China.

Beat Zehnder, a seasoned figure at Sauber, expressed the team’s frustration, stating, “The skids have apparently been measured lower than 9mm. We conduct thorough checks in practice sessions—FP1, FP2, FP3—followed by measurements to ensure compliance. However, we are still puzzled as to why we ended up below the regulation thickness.” He noted that Hulkenberg’s limited track time during FP3, where he only completed a few laps, might have contributed to the oversight, adding, “This shouldn’t have happened, and it must not happen again.”

Zehnder acknowledged the challenges posed by the bumpy Bahrain circuit, which can exacerbate plank wear but refrained from shifting blame. “While the nature of the track can impact wear, it’s ultimately a mistake on our part. We certainly had no intention of violating the regulations, especially considering the potential consequences of losing points,” he remarked.

Interestingly, the disparity in wear between Hulkenberg’s car and that of teammate Gabriel Bortoleto may be attributed to the different setups employed, with Hulkenberg opting for a configuration with increased downforce.

So far this season, Sauber’s point-scoring opportunity came during a chaotic Australian race influenced by mixed weather, with the team struggling to maintain competitive pace in subsequent races. The performance gap appeared even more pronounced under Bahrain’s scorching conditions.

When probed by Motorsport.com on whether the current situation accurately reflects the team’s standing and if additional favorable circumstances are necessary for point acquisition, Zehnder responded, “It’s essential to recognize that qualifying plays a pivotal role. Success often hinges on your position in the grid and the airflow you encounter during the race. To effectively challenge other drivers, we need a significant gap—around 1.2 to 1.5 seconds per lap—to overcome the detrimental effects of dirty air. We recognize that we must improve by two or three tenths rapidly, especially in qualifying, to improve our grid positions. Nico is a phenomenal qualifier, and starting from P13 instead of P16 makes a substantial difference.”

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