Nico Hulkenberg update: What happened to Audi star at Australian GP? Why did he not start?

Soon after Oscar Piastri's heart-breaking crash at the Australian GP on Sunday, it was Nico Hulkenberg who was forced to retire

Updated on: Mar 08, 2026 10:04 AM IST

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Soon after Oscar Piastri's heartbreaking crash at the Australian GP on Sunday, it was Nico Hulkenberg who was forced to retire. The German veteran's Audi suffered a technical issue and was wheeled off the grid into the garage. The car failed to take the start. With the issues, Hulkenberg’s hopes for the season-opening race in Melbourne ended moments before the start when his car suddenly lost telemetry data.

Audi's German driver Nico Hulkenberg drives during the qualifying session of the Formula One Australian Grand Prix (AFP)

Despite efforts from the team to resolve the problem, the failure could not be fixed in time. The setback made him the second driver to be eliminated before the race even began.

Piastri crash sparks early drama

Earlier, hometown favorite Oscar Piastri had already been forced out after crashing during the parade lap while heading toward the grid. The McLaren driver lost control and slammed into the barriers, ending his race before the start and stunning fans packed into Albert Park hoping to see the Australian compete.

Isack Hadjar's RedBull debut over

On the 12th lap, a third retirement was forced. Isack Hadjar, who impressed in qualifying, suffered some engine issues on his Red Bull. Smoke billowed from the back of his car, and the virtual safety car was called.

Leclerc surges into early lead

When the lights finally went out, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc launched aggressively from fourth place to take the early lead. Pole sitter George Russell was forced to defend second position, while Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli dropped back to fifth in the opening laps. Soon, Lewis Hamilton surged ahead.

Unpredictable start to the 2026 season

With Hulkenberg’s technical retirement, Piastri’s crash and a tense start to the race, the Australian Grand Prix immediately became one of the most unpredictable season openers in recent memory.

2026 Australian Grand Prix starting grid

George Russell — Mercedes — 1:18.518

Kimi Antonelli — Mercedes — 1:18.811

Isack Hadjar — Red Bull Racing — 1:19.303

Charles Leclerc — Ferrari — 1:19.327

Oscar Piastri — McLaren — 1:19.380

Lando Norris — McLaren — 1:19.475

Lewis Hamilton — Ferrari — 1:19.478

Liam Lawson — Racing Bulls — 1:19.994

Arvid Lindblad — Racing Bulls — 1:21.247

Gabriel Bortoleto — Audi

Nico Hulkenberg — Audi — 1:20.303

Oliver Bearman — Haas — 1:20.311

Esteban Ocon — Haas — 1:20.491

Pierre Gasly — Alpine — 1:20.501

Alexander Albon — Williams — 1:20.941

Franco Colapinto — Alpine — 1:21.270

Fernando Alonso — Aston Martin — 1:21.969

Sergio Perez — Cadillac — 1:22.605

Valtteri Bottas — Cadillac — 1:23.244

Max Verstappen — Red Bull Racing

Carlos Sainz — Williams

Lance Stroll — Aston Martin

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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