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Hulkenberg reveals how he narrowly avoided Bortoleto spin at Zandvoort
Nico Hulkenberg described his instinct-driven escape from a chaotic opening-lap spin by Audi team-mate Gabriel Bortoleto at the Dutch Grand Prix.
By Michael de Vries - 2026-08-26T08:59:23.000Z - 2 min read
The opening lap of the Dutch Grand Prix nearly delivered a disastrous intra-team collision for Audi when Gabriel Bortoleto spun his car directly in front of team-mate Nico Hulkenberg. Racing conditions at Zandvoort were treacherous, with the asphalt still damp from a pre-race shower while drivers attempted to navigate the circuit on slick tyres. The tense moment unfolded at the final, heavily banked corner as the field scrambled through a chaotic start to the afternoon.
Bortoleto lost control of his car after reacting to heavy smoke ahead, where Max Verstappen had suffered a major crash. The Brazilian driver completed a complete 360-degree rotation, leaving his machine briefly stranded right in the middle of the racing line. Hulkenberg, running directly behind his team-mate, faced an immediate choice at high speed on a slippery surface.
Describing the episode, the veteran German admitted that he felt entirely like a passenger while relying on pure reflex. He explained that he waited as long as possible to see which direction Bortoleto's sliding car would drift before making a split-second decision to pick a side. Fortunately, a combination of sharp judgement and good fortune kept the two Audi cars apart.
Bortoleto noted that his spin was triggered by sudden evasive action further up the order. Having spotted thick smoke ahead caused by Verstappen's heavy impact, a minor steering correction caught him out on the wet circuit, sending him spinning and leaving him stationary before he managed to rejoin.
Despite the early scare, the afternoon ended on a positive note for the German manufacturer. Hulkenberg navigated the remainder of the race to secure eighth place, bringing home four valuable points for the squad. Bortoleto ultimately crossed the finish line in 13th position after recovering from his lap-one incident.
Reflecting on the final result, Hulkenberg emphasised the broader significance of the points finish for team morale. He noted that the outcome validates the ongoing development work at the factory and provides a welcome boost after a difficult start to the weekend across Friday and Saturday sessions.
The points finish extended Audi's scoring streak to four consecutive Grands Prix. The German manufacturer holds eighth position in the constructors' standings, now sitting five points clear of Williams while closing to within five points of Haas ahead.