Investigating Nico Hulkenberg’s Controversial Disqualification at the Bahrain GP

The Sauber Formula 1 team is left puzzled following Nico Hulkenberg’s disqualification from the Bahrain Grand Prix. Despite crossing the finish line in 13th place after a challenging race, his skid plank was found to be below the minimum thickness of 9mm, leading to his exclusion from the results.

Skid Plank Woes: A Season-Long Issue

This incident marks the second time this season that a car has been disqualified due to skid plank issues, with Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari also being penalized for excessive wear in China. The team’s veteran, Beat Zehnder, expressed his confusion over the matter. “Apparently the skids have been measured lower than 9mm,” he said. “We don’t know why we fell below the minimum thickness.

Zehnder suggested that the bumpy nature of the Bahrain circuit might have contributed to the excessive wear, but refused to make excuses. He emphasized that such mistakes should not occur again.

Sauber’s Struggles in the 2025 Season

The disqualification comes at a time when Sauber has struggled to score points since their chaotic mixed weather race in Australia. Their 2025 car seems to have a narrow performance window, especially in Bahrain’s hot conditions. When asked about the team’s current standing and the need for special circumstances to score points, Zehnder replied: “Qualifying is crucial, and it depends greatly on which train you are in. Free air makes a significant difference in every aspect.

He further explained that a lap time difference of 1.2 to 1.5 seconds is needed to attack, making dirty air painful for the tires and free air healthier. Sauber is striving to find two or three tenths quickly just to qualify a bit further up the grid, with Hulkenberg’s strong qualifying skills providing a significant advantage.

Despite these challenges, the team remains hopeful and continues to work tirelessly towards improving their performance in future races.