The unfortunate Audi failure that cost Nico Hulkenberg €200,000

An unfortunate Audi equipment failure cost Nico Hulkenberg a €200,000 bonus, based on reports surrounding the terms of his contract with the German manufacturer.

According to OE24, the German earns €5 million per season at Audi, the equivalent of £4.3 million. However, he also has a bonus clause in his contract for each point scored.

Hulkenberg is reported to earn an extra €50,000 (roughly £43,000) per point he scores in 2026, with an equipment failure at the Shanghai International Circuit having cost him a possible €200,000 (£174,000) bonus.

During the Chinese Grand Prix, the 38-year-old was running comfortably in eighth when he pitted at the end of lap 35, before encountering a 16-second pit stop.

The long stop was caused by a right-rear wheel gun failure, dropping him outside the points. Ultimately, Hulkenberg had to settle for 11th, when finishing in eighth had been a real possibility.

It was a hugely unfortunate outcome for Hulkenberg in what was the first grand prix he had been able to start in 2026.

Hulkenberg failed to start the season opener in Australia following a technical issue before the race got underway, forcing him to watch the action from the Hinwil-based team’s garage.

To add to the veteran’s misery, he also finished 11th in the recent Japanese Grand Prix, meaning he is yet to score a point since the introduction of the new power unit regulations.

Thankfully for Audi, Gabriel Bortoleto has scored two points to get the team off the mark in F1.