F1 News, Reports and Race Results

Hulkenberg hit with grid penalty following gearbox change

Renault's Nico Hulkenberg will be demoted five spots on tomorrow's Azerbaijan GP starting grid after his team was forced to replace the gearbox on his R.S.18.

The end of the German driver's FP3 session was disrupted by a mechanical issue that Renault traced to Hulkenberg's gearbox, the team deciding to replace the component before this afternoon's qualifying session.

The problem will put an end to the P7 qualifying streak Hulk has enjoyed in his last six Grands Prix.

Yesterday, the Renault driver was deprived of track time in FP2 as the French outfit replaced the R.S.18's floor, but brake issues also impacted his session.

"In FP2 I generally wasn't happy with how they felt or how they performed but that can happen sometimes," he said.

"They were also used brakes, which probably explains the biggest part of it."

Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Michael Delaney

Recent Posts

McLaren’s blink-and-you-miss-it other big win in 2025

In the theater of Formula 1, where fortunes are won and lost in the blink…

14 mins ago

Verstappen expands GT ambitions with Mercedes-AMG partnership

Max Verstappen’s GT outfit – Verstappen Racing – has confirmed its headline-grabbing partnership with Mercedes-AMG…

1 hour ago

Through one lens: 12 defining photographs from the 2025 F1 season

  Lewis Hamilton: Australian GP – Albert Park Lewis Hamilton’s very first Grand Prix weekend…

21 hours ago

Two Formula 1 racers born on Christmas day

One driver has a hugely famous name, the other is a special Grand Prix winner,…

23 hours ago

Red with purpose – It’s time for Ferrari to bring it home

As the Ferrari factory in Maranello glows in festive crimson, a sense of anticipation hums…

2 days ago

Norris reveals the quirky private moment his F1 title finally sunk in

Lando Norris had just done the hardest thing in motorsport – winning the Formula 1…

2 days ago