After a couple of recent frustrating races, Nico Hulkenberg enjoyed one of his best drives of 2026 as he held off George Russell to log a solid eighth place in Singapore.
It was a superb performance by the Audi driver, from the first lap to the last, and having avoided an impeding penalty the day before, he took full advantage.
He originally qualified in P11, and then gained a place on the grid from Russell’s power unit penalties.
Both Audi drivers have had a few disappointing starts this season, but on this occasion a good one made all the difference for Hulkenberg. He jumped ahead of both Pierre Gasly and Arvid Lindblad on the first lap, and then spent the race chasing Liam Lawson.
“I think not just at the start, but I had a good lap one, a good feeling today, an instinct as to where to go,” he said. “I think inside of Turn 2 and on the exit, I got another position. So yeah, that was nice and set us up for a good race.
“Obviously, all very close there with the Racing Bulls and the Alpine behind in terms of pace.”
In the closing laps, Hulkenberg had Russell looming large in his mirrors. The Mercedes star had made great progress from his P19 grid slot, but he couldn’t find a way past the German, who defended well.
“And then George at the end was a bit sketchy,” he admitted. “I didn’t think at the beginning it would be possible, but then found a better rhythm and closed the gap to Liam and picked up a bit of an indirect tow, which really helps us on the straight to pick up a bit of straight line speed.”
Hulkenberg thoroughly deserved his result, which made up for the disappointment of being bumped out of the points right at the end in both Baku and Sepang.
“It was a really good weekend for him,” said Audi racing director Allan McNish. “Today he just showed his width of experience, and also I would say his racing brain, because at the end, 10 laps with George, who was clearly quicker, and to be able to be quick at the right points in the circuit, defend well, but not over defend.
“And so I think he really played a really good game. And then ultimately was able to actually pull away from George, and start to catch up a wee bit on Lawson.”
The P8 meant a lot to the team as McNish added: “After the last two races, where we lost a point on the last lap twice, it was actually I think something that everybody in the garage appreciated, the defence that Nico had on it. He wasn’t going to lose that one.”
