Motorsport photoLydia MeeSun, November 30, 2025 at 4:35 PM UTC·4 min readNico Hulkenberg has crashed out of the Qatar Grand Prix after a collision with Alpine's Pierre Gasly on the seventh lap.
As the German driver attempted to pass Gasly around the outside at Turn 2, the pair made contact, sending Hulkenberg spinning through the gravel before he came to a stop.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHulkenberg had started the race from 11th position on the grid and was running in 10th at the time of the crash. While speaking to the media following qualifying, the Sauber driver didn't expect many overtakes during the race due to the lack of opportunities at the Losail International Circuit.
"No, I think it will make it very static," he said. "We saw this morning, no tyre deg, very little racing action. The cornering speeds are a bit too fast. I mean, it's really fun to drive in quali and, you know, very exciting, high speed, high G-forces, but it's not the most, you know, racing-friendly circuit, let's say."
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWith the safety car deployed, race leader Oscar Piastri and his McLaren team-mate Lando Norris stayed out but Max Verstappen, who was running in second at the time, decided to pit along with the remaining drivers.
"This has worked out horribly for McLaren. Those behind have pitted and they have not," former Formula 1 driver and Sky Sports F1 commentator Martin Brundle said. He later added: "Stay tuned to this race, everybody. It feels to me as though McLaren have missed a trick!"
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementDrivers are limited to a maximum of 25 laps on a set of tyres during the Qatar Grand Prix.
"We should have just followed him in, no? If we knew the car ahead was staying out," Norris asked his race engineer Will Joseph, who explained: "They have lost all flexibility for the remainder of the race."
One reason why the Woking outfit may have decided not to pit either Piastri or Norris could be to avoid disadvantaging one over the other. A double stack would have put Norris at a disadvantage and pulling in one and not the other would have been a clear differentiation in strategy.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementPhotos from Qatar GP - Race
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Pierre Gasly, AlpineZak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, FerrariSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Adrian Newey, Managing Technical Partner of Aston Martin F1 Team
Adrian Newey, Managing Technical Partner of Aston Martin F1 TeamZak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls TeamSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, FerrariMark Sutton / Formula 1 via Getty Images
George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, MercedesGuido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty Images
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Aston Martin F1 Team AMR25 gets cooled
The Aston Martin F1 Team AMR25 gets cooledPeter Fox / Getty Images
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls TeamRudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, FerrariClive Rose / Formula 1 via Getty Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingMark Thompson / Getty Images
David Beckham
David BeckhamClive Mason / Getty Images
Flavio Briatore, Executive Advisor of Alpine F1
Flavio Briatore, Executive Advisor of Alpine F1Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 TeamLars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementCarlos Sainz, Williams
Carlos Sainz, WilliamsPeter Fox / Getty Images
Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLarenDom Gibbons / LAT Images via Getty Images
Maya Jama
Maya JamaKym Illman / Getty Images
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 TeamLars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingMark Thompson / Getty Images
Williams mechanics during pit stop practice
Williams mechanics during pit stop practicePeter Fox / Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLarenJayce Illman / Getty Images
Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementFranco Colapinto, Alpine
Franco Colapinto, AlpineClive Mason / Getty Images
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Nico Hulkenberg, SauberSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber
Nico Hulkenberg, SauberSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber
Nico Hulkenberg, SauberSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber
Nico Hulkenberg, SauberSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber crash
Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber crashRudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images
Drivers pit during the safety car
Drivers pit during the safety carAltaf Qadri / POOL / AFP via Getty Images
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementOscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLarenMahmud Hams / AFP via Getty Images
To read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website.
AdvertisementAdvertisement