The Gasly-Hülkenberg Collision at Qatar GP 2025

Gasly also damaged the front left of his Alpine but continued the race at a compromised pace. Crucially, this incident immediately brought out the Safety Car, reshuffling race strategies across the grid.

FIA Stewards’ Verdict

Following a thorough review involving team radio, video evidence, and telemetry, the FIA stewards concluded that neither Gasly nor Hülkenberg was predominantly to blame for the collision. The stewards noted Gasly had tried to leave racing space, and Hülkenberg had sufficient room on the inside. The incident was ruled a racing incident, and no penalties were assigned.

Strategic Fallout Impacting McLaren

The Safety Car triggered by the collision played a pivotal role in McLaren’s race downfall. While Max Verstappen and others pitted under Safety Car conditions to capitalize on the « free stop, » McLaren opted not to retire Piastri and Norris to the pits. This strategic choice, later admitted as a costly misjudgment by McLaren’s management, handed Verstappen a crucial advantage in the championship battle.

Drivers’ and Teams’ Reactions

Hülkenberg expressed frustration over the incident in his radio messages post-collision, while Gasly maintained he had kept a consistent racing line. Both teams accepted the stewards’ ruling but recognized the incident’s significant impact on the race dynamics and the title fight intensity.