Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg will start Sunday’s Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix from the pit lane after his VF-23 was removed from parc ferme conditions.
Hulkenberg was set to start from only 17th on the grid after being eliminated from Q1 on Friday.
Hulkenberg struggled for performance during F1 Sprint on Saturday and dropped down to 15th by the chequered flag.
“We have to look at that one as it was weird, after the first couple of laps the rear tyres completely switched off,” said Hulkenberg.
“I think we had pretty heavy graining, so we need to investigate, but it was definitely going in the wrong direction that race. The Sprint was the long-run practice, so we’ll hopefully learn from that.”
Hulkenberg will join Alpine’s Esteban Ocon in the pit lane after his team withdrew his car from parc ferme conditions before F1 Sprint.
Ocon described his A523 as “a lot better” following the set-up changes that were “necessary to give us a better chance.”
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc will start from pole position.
