Audi defends Hulkenberg after Brazilian GP penalty

Audi's racing director Allan McNish has spoken about the 10-second penalty given to Nico Hulkenberg at the Brazilian Grand Prix, which dropped him behind Alpine's Franco Colapinto for the final points position.

Hulkenberg qualified sixth in the rain-affected session and was running in the top 10 after switching to slick tyres, but he lost ground following a second pitstop on lap 44. He then took four laps to pass Colapinto at Turn 1, going around the outside and leaving the track in the process, which led to the penalty for gaining an advantage.

McNish said Audi was positively surprised by its competitiveness against the Ferraris in wet conditions, though the team did not have the same speed on dry tyres. He said Colapinto had pushed Hulkenberg wide and that the penalty came because Hulkenberg had left the track and was then judged to have gained an advantage.