Hulkenberg, who claimed the first podium finish of his F1 career at the British Grand Prix earlier this month. was eventually eliminated in 14th as Sauber team-mate Gabriel Bortoleto reached Q3. Bortoleto will line up 10th on Sunday’s starting grid in Belgium.

The FIA have placed F1 stars Nico Hulkenberg and Lance Stroll under investigation after a pitlane incident at the Belgian Grand Prix. As Hulkenberg pulled out to join the queue of cars heading into the pitlane for qualifying, the Aston Martin of Stroll kept moving and the two made contact.

F1 governing body the FIA is said to have been alerted to the need for a tweak to the rules following Red Bull's swift replacement of Christian Horner with Laurent Mekies