OFICIAL Formula 1

Hulkenberg reacts to 'scary' near-miss in Dutch GP

What happened
Based on Formula 1 · Aug 24, 2026

Nico Hulkenberg secured eighth place at the Dutch Grand Prix despite a near-collision with teammate Gabriel Bortoleto during a chaotic opening lap on a damp track.

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Hulkenberg reacts to 'scary' near-miss in Dutch GP
Formula 1 — Formula 1
Key points
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Nico Hulkenberg finished P8 in the Dutch Grand Prix, but only after suffering a near-miss with Audi team mate, Gabriel Bortoleto.
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Hulkenberg finished best-of-the-rest behind the leading teams in last Sunday's 72-lap race at the Zandvoort Circuit after finishing eighth, ensuring the German secured back-to-back points finishes.
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The result came after a dramatic opening lap incident, with Max Verstappen losing control of his Red Bull through the final, high-speed banked turn on a damp track before hitting the wall.
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Further back, Bortoleto also lost control and performed a full 360-degree spin before rejoining, but having almost been collected by the following Hulkenberg.

Nico Hulkenberg described his near-miss with Audi teammate Gabriel Bortoleto as "scary" and "sketchy," admitting he felt like "a passenger" during the incident at the Dutch Grand Prix. The collision was narrowly avoided on a wet Zandvoort track after Bortoleto’s 360-degree spin following Max Verstappen’s crash. Hulkenberg finished eighth, securing four points for Audi and maintaining their position in the Teams’ standings.

The race began with Verstappen losing control on a damp track, hitting the wall in the final turn, while Bortoleto spun before nearly being collected by Hulkenberg. Despite the early drama, Hulkenberg advanced through traffic to finish ahead of Pierre Gasly’s Alpine. The result kept Audi in eighth place in the Teams’ Championship, just five points behind Haas and five clear of Williams.

Hulkenberg emphasized the significance of the points for Audi’s championship campaign and team morale, calling the result "super important" and validating the team’s recent progress. He acknowledged a challenging weekend but expressed satisfaction with the outcome, noting it was "very nice and sweet" to finish strongly after difficult Friday and Saturday sessions.

Bortoleto, who restarted from 17th and finished 13th, attributed his spin to a reaction to Verstappen’s crash but suggested deeper issues within the team. He avoided elaborating further, stating the team needed to analyze the incident before moving forward. The Brazilian’s spin caused no damage, allowing him to continue without penalty.

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