3 teams Formula 1 completely screwed over in Melbourne
By Asher Fair
Three teams Formula 1 screwed over: No. 2 – Haas
No Formula 1 driver has competed in as many races as Nico Hulkenberg has (184) without finishing on the podium a single time. Haas, which have been competing in the sport since 2016, are also the only active Formula 1 team that have never recorded a podium finish (147 races).
Both streaks could have — and should have — ended amid Sunday’s chaos. Instead, both extended.
Following the chaos on the final restart, Hulkenberg was in fourth place, but he was behind Carlos Sainz Jr. in third. Considering the fact that Sainz ended up being given a five-second time penalty, therefore implying that the restart did, in fact, take place (and count) — Hulkenberg should have been promoted to third behind Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton.
Running in an effective third position when the race was neutralized, Hulkenberg could have been standing on the podium for the first time in his Formula 1 career, delivering the sport’s lone American team their first ever podium finish in the process.
Instead, he was officially scored in seventh place, which was still tied for his best finish since 2018. Prior to being called upon by Haas to replace Mick Schumacher this year, Hulkenberg had not competed full-time since 2019. Absolutely nobody is blaming Guenther Steiner for fuming post-race.