Spare a thought for Nico Hulkenberg: "This hurts"
F1 News
Nico Hulkenberg was flying. In the middle of the German Grand Prix, the Renault driver was sitting as high as 2nd place and looked likely to take his first-ever Formula 1 podium. The German has previously started from pole, but he's never managed to win an F1 trophy in 168 races.
Hulkenberg crashed out of the race as he made a mistake in turn 16. In front of his home fans, he ran across the drag strip, across the gravel and into the wall which ended his race. He is "gutted" after missing out on a golden opportunity.
"Today is one of those days where you have to make it stick, where you have to make it count when you're given an opportunity," Hulkenberg told Sky Sports.
"I'm just gutted, for myself and for the team that we couldn't make it stick - especially in front of the home fans. It hurts and it's going to hurt even more tomorrow. One little moment to the entry of Turn 16, I lost the car a little bit on a damp track with tyres that are degrading. That black tarmac is basically like ice and I wasn't aware of that."
Hulkenberg was the second Renault car to retire after Daniel Ricciardo blew his engine. A podium finish from Toro Rosso's Daniil Kvyat means they leapfrog Renault in the Formula 1 world championship.