Nico Hulkenberg questions false start penalty after "tough" Hungarian GP: "I didn't do anything wrong"

Nico Hulkenberg was penalised for a false start at the Hungarian Grand Prix but insists he didn’t jump the start

Nico Hulkenberg received a five-second penalty during the Hungarian Grand Prix for a false start, but while it was confirmed by the race stewards, the Sauber driver still believes he didn't jump the start.

Speaking to Sky Sports F1 Germany following the race, Hulkenberg admitted he had "no idea" before giving his own explanation of what may have happened.

"I need to take a look at it. From my perspective, I didn’t do anything wrong, no jump start. I was a bit late today engaging first gear, and when you do that, the car makes a little jump.

"I don’t know. Maybe I was already quite far forward and that somehow triggered it. That’s the only explanation I can think of, but yeah, I’ll have to review it."

The FIA monitors any movement from a car "after the four (4) second light is illuminated and before the start signal is given by extinguishing all red lights.”

Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber

Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images

It could be, as Hulkenberg opined, that the car moving as the clutch engaged triggered this penalty.

This has compounded what has been a difficult weekend for the German, who qualified 19th after battling persistent issues with the rear of his car. While his team-mate, rookie driver Gabriel Bortoleto, finished sixth, Hulkenberg continued to struggle during the race, only managing a 13th-place finish behind Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton in what he described as "long, tough, hard work."

"I don’t think it was race-defining or world-changing, but of course, it kind of fits with how the whole weekend has gone."

Formula 1 now heads into a three-week summer break, but Hulkenberg would prefer to finish on more of a high note.

"We just had a two-week break recently, and for me, it could keep going right away. Especially after a weekend like this, it wouldn’t be bad to get straight back in the car and keep working and driving.

"But it is what it is. I’ll use the break as best I can, and then we’ll be back in a few weeks in Zandvoort."