Nico Hulkenberg left baffled by Lance Stroll pitlane collision during Belgian GP qualifying

Nico Hulkenberg and Lance Stroll collided in the pitlane during Belgian Grand Prix qualifying, with both blaming each other and being summoned to the stewards

Nico Hulkenberg believes Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll should have yielded after the two cars came together in the pitlane during qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix. Admitting it was "a bit peculiar," the German driver insists he followed the correct procedure.

Speaking after qualifying at Spa-Francorchamps but before the stewards decided no further action was necessary, Hulkenberg was quick to defend his pitlane entry after the collision resulted in a damaged front wing of his Sauber.

"Yeah, I don't know. It was a particular one. I need to look at it from the outside.

"But, you know, I think when you have a front wheel crossing that white line between the pitlane, the fast lane and the slow lane, the next driver is supposed to let you in, slot you in. And I believe my tyre was there, so I thought he would let me in, and then he didn't.

"So we touched. A bit peculiar and obviously unnecessary that we lose a front wing like this. I hope we can recover it. But yeah, we'll see."

On being pushed as to whether he had right of way or not, he said simply: "Well, we'll see. I think we'll go to the stewards and see what they say."

Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber

Photo by: Steven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images

Drivers in the fast lane have priority over those merging from the working lane. But drivers who have a full tyre across the white line have right of way.

"It is noted that a car will be considered to be 'in the fast lane' when a tyre has crossed the solid white line separating the fast lane from the inner lane, in this context crossing means that all of a tyre should be beyond the far side, with respect to the garages, of the line separating the fast lane from the inner lane," the race director's notes read.

"Once a car has left its garage or pit stop position it should blend into the fast lane as soon as it is safe to do so, and without unnecessarily impeding cars which are already in the fast lane.

"Thus, after the start or re-start of a Free Practice Session, Sprint Qualifying or Qualifying Session, if there is a suitable gap in a queue of cars in the fast lane, such that a driver can blend into the fast lane safely and without unnecessarily impeding cars already in the fast lane, they are free to do so."

The stewards determined that "Car 27 should have merged into the line when there was a “suitable gap” and in this case no such gap existed."

It added: "We consider that no driver was wholly or predominantly to blame and hence take no further action in relation to Causing a Collision. "

"I was just doing my thing in the queue. And yeah, I think he was trying to get his nose in the queue," Lance Stroll said following his Q1 exit.

"I didn't have to [let him in]. I mean, I was in the queue."

Hulkenberg isn't feeling optimistic for tomorrow's race. With rain on the way, he's expecting a "difficult task".

"You know, you have to do it all over again. That you got it right there doesn't mean you get it right here.

"You know, it's very tough and difficult, especially around here in Spa. It's such a long lap as well. It can be very different conditions between one place and another place on the track. So, difficult task for everyone coming up I would say."