Horror Start for Nico Hülkenberg at his 250th Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi Qualifying

Nico Hülkenberg's 250th Grand Prix weekend started disastrously, as the German F1 star was eliminated in Q1 during the Abu Dhabi qualifying session. This disappointing performance comes despite strong practice sessions, leaving Hülkenberg and his team frustrated ahead of the final race with Sauber.

Why it matters:

After a season that saw him secure eight points finishes and a podium at Silverstone, Hülkenberg's milestone 250th Grand Prix was supposed to be a celebratory affair. Instead, this early exit in qualifying puts a significant dent in his and Sauber's hopes for a strong finish, impacting their battle for Constructors' Championship positions and Hülkenberg's personal quest for a top-10 Drivers' Championship spot.

The Details:

• Qualifying Blunder: Hülkenberg was eliminated in Q1, starting 18th for his 250th Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi.
• Team Timing Issues: Speaking to Sky, Hülkenberg expressed frustration over a completely botched timing decision by his Sauber team.
  • He stated, "We were the last car, waited a long time in the pit lane." This led to heavy traffic.
  • "I had traffic on the outlap and on the fast lap. Today we wrote a manual on how not to do it."
• Strong Practice: Despite the qualifying woes, Hülkenberg had shown strong pace in practice sessions, indicating potential for a good performance.
• Max Verstappen on Pole: Meanwhile, Max Verstappen secured pole position for the championship showdown, with McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri lining up alongside him on the front row.

The Big Picture:

This is another setback for Hülkenberg after a collision and retirement in Qatar. However, his season has been strong overall, securing eight points finishes and his first podium at Silverstone. He still has a slim chance to jump into the top-10 in the Drivers' Championship if he scores two more points than Isack Hadjar, a monumental task from 18th place.

What's Next:

Sauber now faces a tough challenge to overtake Haas in the Constructors' Championship. Hülkenberg's team is currently five points behind the American outfit in ninth place. While his teammate Gabriel Bortoleto starts from seventh, he is only one position ahead of Esteban Ocon in the Haas, and Oliver Bearman in 11th also has a good chance to score points on Sunday. Hülkenberg will need a heroic drive to salvage points and celebrate his milestone with a positive result.