Rosberg Highlighted Hülkenberg’s Split-Second Reaction at Zandvoort
The Dutch Grand Prix left an image that fans will not easily forget. It was not an overtake or a fast lap, but an evasive maneuver that, according to a world champion, demonstrated the incredible reaction capacity of elite drivers. Nico Rosberg, 2016 Formula 1 champion, did not hesitate to praise Nico Hülkenberg's intervention to avoid a high speed collision with his Audi teammate, Gabriel Bortoleto.
Chaos broke out on the first lap of the race at Zandvoort. Although the rain had stopped before the start, the track still had dangerously wet sections. Max Verstappen, the local hero, was the first to suffer the consequences when he hit a damp patch on the last banked corner, crashing into the wall. Shortly after, Bortoleto suffered a similar incident: a 360 degree spin that miraculously did not end against the barriers and allowed him to continue in the race.
It was then that Hülkenberg, who was coming behind his young teammate, found himself in a critical situation. A dense cloud of tire smoke completely engulfed him. When it cleared, the German came face to face with Bortoleto's car just a few meters ahead, the decision had to be made in a fraction of a second.
Rosberg, a Sky Sports F1 commentator, analyzed the move with admiration: "This just shows how fast those drivers react, Hülkenberg went into the corner, he knew more or less where Bortoleto was and where he was heading, he had a white wall but at the last moment he saw it and, boom!, he reacted and avoided the crash" he stated. For the German champion, the maneuver was not a matter of luck: "I don't think it was just luck, I think there was also some skill in avoiding that big crash" he concluded.
The protagonist of the maneuver also shared his perspective. Hülkenberg described the moment with the clarity that experience gives: "It was tricky and risky, naturally I saw it all happening almost in slow motion at that speed" he explained. The 39 year old driver detailed the dilemma he faced: "Turn 14 was still completely wet and with slicks it's a bit exciting. I saw him lose control of the car, as I said, in slow motion and at full speed, but then you don't know exactly if he's going to slide up or down, what's going to happen."
The final decision was a mix of instinct and calculation: "For me it was clear: hey, I have to try to get around it somehow, plus there was all the debris and Max's smoke ahead so it seemed like a crazy and spectacular scene. I slowed down and tried to wait as long as possible before deciding which way to go, a sheet of paper would have fit between us but not much more" continued Hülkenberg. The precision of his maneuver was such that the margin for error was practically non existent, measured in centimeters.
The outcome of the race was positive for Audi. Hülkenberg achieved his best result of the season, finishing in eighth position and scoring four valuable points for the team.
Bortoleto crossed the line in thirteenth place. Beyond the points, the image that remains is that of a veteran driver who, with his reflexes and experience, avoided what could have been a multi car crash with serious consequences.
