Overview

• Team radio on the formation lap informed Nico Hülkenberg of a hydraulic problem and instructed him to return to the garage.
• Sauber says the fault appeared during the final engine start on the grid roughly seven minutes before lights out, prompting on‑grid troubleshooting.
• Jonathan Wheatley explained that engineers tried everything in the start area but the car’s deeply packaged systems made a fix impossible in time.
• Hülkenberg said he did not notice any issue on the grid and described the pre‑start withdrawal as a painful setback.
• Gabriel Bortoleto finished eighth to secure points for Sauber, and Hülkenberg expressed optimism that the package will be competitive at Baku.