Nico Hulkenberg Disqualified from the 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix
The 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix witnessed a dramatic turn of events as German driver, Nico Hulkenberg, was disqualified due to a technical violation. This penalty mirrors the fate that befell Lewis Hamilton during the Chinese Grand Prix.
Rear Skid Below Minimum Thickness Triggers Disqualification
The rear skid of Hulkenberg’s car was found to be below the 9mm minimum thickness mandated by TR Article 3.5.9 e, leading to this issue being referred to the stewards. This oversight resulted in the unfortunate disqualification of the Sauber driver.
The qualifying session proved challenging for Hulkenberg, with a lap deleted due to exceeding track limits. Despite this setback, a late decision by the FIA allowed him to advance to Q2, where he qualified 13th. However, subsequent adjustments saw him demoted to 16th position.
The FIA’s official statement read, “Car 27 is disqualified from the Race classification. All other drivers move up in the classification.” Confirming this decision, the FIA published, “Car 27 is disqualified from the Race classification due to a technical infringement.
Team Representative Admits Error
During the hearing, the team representative of Car 27 (Nico Hulkenberg) confirmed that the rear skid measurement was indeed 8.4mm on both sides and 8.5mm at the car centerline, falling short of the required minimum thickness. The team acknowledged this as a genuine error.
The Stewards determined that Article 3.5.9 e) of the FIA Formula One Technical Regulations had been breached, warranting the standard penalty of disqualification for such an infringement.
Right to Appeal and Independent Decisions
Competitors have the right to appeal certain decisions of the Stewards, in accordance with Article 15 of the FIA International Sporting Code and Chapter 4 of the FIA Judicial and Disciplinary Rules, within the applicable time limits. The Stewards’ decisions are taken independently of the FIA and are based solely on the relevant regulations, guidelines, and evidence presented.
