Even though Nico Hulkenberg has been away from F1 as a full-time driver, he’s still keeping up with the action of this incredible season. The German, who is currently a reserve driver for Aston Martin, recently spoke on the championship battle between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton.

On the controversial collision between the two rivals in Saudi Arabia, Hulkenberg said, “That’s Max Verstappen. He fights like a lion for the championship and he gives everything he has. He knew he wouldn’t be able to overtake Lewis if he let him pass.”

“That’s why he prepared and planned it so cleverly.” (Translated via Google Translate)

Hulkenberg also commended Hamilton’s intelligent reaction. “Lewis smelled a trap. That’s why he didn’t want to overtake Max at the point he was following. That was chess at the highest level,” he said.

“Those two race at 300 km/h and still think things like this.”

Hulkenberg calls the incident between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen ‘strategic games’

While most of the people from in and out of the F1 community have theoretical and somewhat complicated explanations about the incident between the two rivals, Hulkenberg feels it’s quite simple. That it’s simply down to DRS.

“I’m sure it had to do with DRS. The DRS measuring point is before the last bend. Max wanted Lewis to overtake before that point so he could get DRS and overtake Lewis right away. These are strategic games,” he said.

Hulkenberg claims Hamilton was probably aware of this. And that’s the reason he stayed behind, which resulted in both cars getting a ‘little too close’. But what he doesn’t understand is why the Mercedes driver didn’t overtake the Red Bull right then.

“However, from Lewis’s perspective, I don’t quite understand why he didn’t overtake immediately and continue his race.”

Regardless, Verstappen was penalized for that incident and yes, things have been said from both ends.

Now, all that remains is the final race in Abu Dhabi that will decide the champion.

Also Read: Ex-F1 Driver Sides for Stewards for Setting a ‘Precedent’ With Max Verstappen Penalty at Saudi Arabian GP