The 2024 Italian F1 Grand Prix was a day of mixed emotions for both Haas and VISA CashApp RB.
For Haas, Kevin Magnussen scored a point in 10th, but received a one-race ban to be served in Baku, and Nico Hülkenberg finished 17th. For RB, Daniel Ricciardo finished 13th while facing multiple time penalties, and Yuki Tsunoda was unable to complete the race.
These disappointing finishes were largely the results of the interactions between the two teams.
The most significant incident came when Hülkenberg’s Haas VF-24 collided with Tsunoda’s RB 01 at the opening chicane, causing considerable damage to the Japanese driver’s car and forcing him to retire.
When asked about the incident, Hülkenberg believes Tsunoda could have done more to avoid it, although it was the German who was out of control heading into turn 1.
“He probably was on the radio, knowing him.
“Of course, I didn’t stop it how I wanted to. But I think he saw me coming as well, with quite some speed, and still decided to turn in,” he added.
“I think he could have decided to save himself, but he chose not to.”
Understandably, Tsunoda disagreed.
“What I know is a white car trying to overtake from the inside, pretty far away, and with massive white smoke and just losing control and smashing into me.
“I tried to give the space as much as possible, but he just came straight [into me]. So, nothing I could have done”
Reporters insinuated to the 24-year-old RB driver that Hülkenberg was potentially seeking revenge for an incident with Tsunoda’s teammate Daniel Ricciardo earlier in the race. The driver from Perth had forced the German onto the grass heading to Ascari on Lap 1 as he failed to leave a full cars width and received a five-second penalty as a result.
“He seemed hot-headed,” said Tsunoda, “but wrong person, if it’s that.”
Hülkenberg insisted this wasn’t the case, and despite battling them in the World Constructors Championship, said he doesn’t race RB any differently.
“No, I think that’s not it. Just normal racing. I mean, we were 5-6 cars in a row there, bunched up, and obviously I lost out a lot.
“I wanted to make ground up again, and… just made contact there, but nothing to do with the championship.”
When Tsunoda was asked if the 10-second penalty was enough for Hulkenberg, he said, “Let’s see. If he scores points, it’s not enough. And if he’s not scored points, I mean it’s still not enough.”
“But, hopefully, he gets penalty points on top of it. I hope he does. I don’t know if it automatically comes with the 10 seconds. We are fighting Haas.
“My head right now is not in the right place I guess, pretty frustrated.”
Hülkenberg did receive 2 penalty points after the race, satisfying Tsunoda’s wish.
Both teams will look to move forward into Baku after this frustrating weekend.
Haas’s other driver Kevin Magnussen also received a penalty in this race, resulting in a one-race ban due to accumulation of penalty points.
As a result, Hülkenberg will line up with a new team mate in Baku for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, as Oliver Bearman replaces the Dane.
The teams are separated by 6 points in the Constructors’ Championship, with RB in P6 and Haas in P7. Going into the final 8 races of the season, the battle between the two is likely to remain close.
