Hulkenberg says P10 in Sao Paulo GP was maximum possible

Nico Hulkenberg said that finishing tenth and taking the final point in the Sao Paulo Grand Prix was "the maximum possible", despite serving a 10-second penalty for cutting the track at Turn 1. The Audi driver had started fourth after a wet qualifying session, but slipped down the order once conditions dried at the start.

Hulkenberg recovered from eleventh by passing Racing Bulls driver Arvid Lindblad seven laps from the end, after the penalty was served at a late pit stop for intermediate tyres. He said the team did not have much pace on slicks or intermediates and would review the race.

The result was Hulkenberg's fifth points finish in a Grand Prix this season and reduced Audi's gap to Haas for seventh in the constructors' standings to three points. Team mate Gabriel Bortoleto finished sixteenth after crashing out early in qualifying.