Hulkenberg disqualified from Bahrain Grand Prix over skid block breach

Nico Hulkenberg has been disqualified from the Bahrain Grand Prix due to excessive skid block wear on his Kick Sauber, meaning the German loses his 13th-place finish.

Hulkenberg made up three positions over the course of Sunday night’s 57-lap encounter in the Sakhir desert, only for post-race car checks to uncover an apparent rule breach.

READ MORE: Piastri storms to controlled victory in Bahrain Grand Prix ahead of Russell and Norris

In a report from FIA F1 Technical Delegate Jo Bauer, it was confirmed that Hulkenberg’s rearmost skid came in under the minimum thickness required within the Technical Regulations.

“Measurements were taken along the stiffness compliant area at three different points of the periphery (inner arc),” read the note. “The recorded measurement were 8.4 mm (left-hand side), 8.5 mm (car centerline) and 8.4 mm (right-hand side).”

As this was below the 9mm minimum thickness required by Article 3.5.9 e) of the Technical Regulations, the matter was swiftly referred to the stewards, who later dished out a penalty.

READ MORE: ‘We finished the job in style’ – Piastri ‘very proud’ to deliver McLaren’s first Bahrain GP win with commanding display

Article 3.5.9 e) of the Technical Regulations covers the plank assembly area on an F1 car.

“The thickness of the plank assembly measured normal to the lower surface must be 10mm ± 0.2mm and must be uniform when new,” the article reads.

“A minimum thickness of 9mm will be accepted due to wear, and conformity to this provision will be checked at the peripheries of the designated holes.”

Hulkenberg’s disqualification follows on from Lewis Hamilton suffering the same fate at the Chinese Grand Prix, where the Ferrari man was stripped of a points-paying finish.

READ MORE: Norris rues ‘messy race’ after P3 finish in Bahrain as he vows to ‘step it up’ at Saudi Arabian GP

Hulkenberg’s team mate, Gabriel Bortoleto, was the final classified driver at the Bahrain International Circuit in 19th, but he now moves up a spot following the stewards’ decision.