Nico Hulkenberg (Retired, Lap 39): 7/10
While his Renault team mate remained relatively anonymous this weekend, it was a relatively strong performance from Nico Hulkenberg. After a subdued first practice, the German used his home knowledge to give him the edge in FP2 and FP3, and that allowed him the springboard he needed to make it through to the final top ten pole shoot-out round in qualifying. He started the race from ninth on the grid, and he was soon running inside the top five. He decided against making an early move to intermediates when the weather started to clear up, which others tried and then had to reconsider as the rain picked up again. As a result he found himself up in second place, and that tantalising first F1 career podium was briefly within his grasp. He was soon passed by both of the recovering Mercedes, but given what subsequently happened to Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton there was still every chance he would have finished in the top three. Instead he became another victim of the treacherous conditions in the final corner on lap 40, his dreams disappearing in a forlorn spray of wet gravel.
