F1 Driver Was Disqualified From Brazilian GP After Super-Rare Black Flag
It has only happened three times in the past 19 years.
Ryan Smart
A Formula 1 driver received a rare black-flag disqualification during the Brazilian Grand Prix.
The race in 2024, which was heavily rain-affected, was won by Red Bull's Max Verstappen after the four-time champion produced one of his most memorable drives.
Verstappen started the Grand Prix in 17th place, having been handed a five-place grid penalty, but swiftly made his way through the field and overtook Alpine's Esteban Ocon for the lead with 26 laps remaining.
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Further down the field, there were various incidents assisted by the weather, including Lance Stroll spinning out of the Grand Prix on the formation lap.
Meanwhile, Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg was disqualified from the race on lap 30.
The German, who was running well down the field, slid off the circuit at turn one on lap 27 and beached his car on an uphill part of the track, causing him to remain stationary for over a minute.
He was able to return to the track and continue his race, but breached FIA regulations in receiving outside assistance from the marshals in order to do so.
Hulkenberg was swiftly shown a black flag by the race stewards, disqualifying him from the Grand Prix.
He became the first driver to be disqualified during a Grand Prix since Felipe Massa and Giancarlo Fisichella in Canada in 2007.
With stand-in team-mate Oliver Bearman - usual driver Kevin Magnussen was ruled out through illness - also failing to score points, the weekend was the key reason why Haas lost out to Alpine in the race for sixth in the Constructors' Championship.
Alpine drivers Ocon and Pierre Gasly finished second and third in the race to pick up 33 points - with the French team ending the season nine points ahead of their American counterparts Haas.
Speaking after the race, Hulkenberg accepted fault for the spin but admitted he was 'unlucky' to be beached.
He told F1TV: "Unfortunately, I needed the marshals as I was beached, which was very unfortunate after a low speed.
"It was my mistake, but it was quite unlucky to be beached like that, as normally you spin and you continue. A small mistake with a huge consequence and, in general, a very tough and disappointing weekend for us."