Nico Hülkenberg and Audi chose to start the 2026 F1 Canadian GP on intermediate tyres after rain started prior to the race start. All reports called for rain before and during Sunday’s race. However, the rain stopped before lights out.
Other teams also took the gamble to start in Montreal on intermediate tyres. Including McLaren, Cadillac and the Williams of Carlos Sainz. It was a bad call. Each car pitted on the first or second lap to swap to slick tyres.
Hülkenberg on the decision to start on intermediate tyres at the F1 Canadian GP
During the laps to the grid it was drizzling making the track slippery, with Nico Hülkenberg stating that it was “pretty sketchy and scary.” The conditions at this time led to the decision for some teams starting on the inter tyres, taking a gamble and expecting more rain to come after lights out.
During the formation lap at the F1 Canadian GP, the McLaren of Oscar Piastri could be heard questioning the decision and wanting to come in to change his tyres.
In these conditions, teams decide what tyres to start on based on the information they recieve from the drivers on their way to the grid. Unfortunately for Audi, the conditions changed and improved while the cars sat on the grid before lights out. Meaning they were starting on the wrong tyre and would have to come in to the pits early.
“Well, we’re on the grid, it’s been drizzling for a while, no cars running, the sky is grey, it could have continued like this.
“Rolled the dice obviously a little bit. But I think also on the laps to the grid, I think our car is very good with tyres. But, when it’s cold I think we also struggle to switch them on and to get temp in. So I think it was also a little bit coming from the laps to the grid. Where it felt pretty sketchy and scary for us.
“So yeah, in hindsight obviously it was absolutely not the right thing to do. But yeah, it’s one of them things.”
Nico Hülkenberg discusses missing out on points again in 2026
Following the F1 Canadian GP Niko Hülkenberg explained how the teams result wasn’t just becasue of the statergy error but was also a pace issue.
Carlos Sainz was the only driver who started intermediate tyres to finish in the points, despite starting behind the Audi duo. Hülkenberg and Bortoleto just missed out on points, finishing P12 and P13.
“Yeah, I mean, because he [Carlos Sainz] was even behind me. He overtook me or he went by and then just ran away from us.
“So, I mean, you could see he was on the same strategy as us. Or made the same kind of error or misjudgement but still got away with something. So, I guess also it’s not just the strategy, it’s also a bit of pace, things to look at.”
Hülkenberg was also handed a 5-second time penalty after speeding in the pit lane, when asked about this incident following the F1 Canadian GP, the driver stated that “it doesn’t really matter”.
“Well, in a race like this, it doesn’t really matter. It’s a pretty cheap one.”
