'You're a passenger' – Hulkenberg reacts to 'scary' near-miss with Bortoleto in Dutch GP

Nico Hulkenberg admits that he was "a passenger" in his near-miss with Audi team mate Gabriel Bortoleto following the Brazilian's high-speed spin in the Dutch Grand Prix.

Hulkenberg finished best-of-the-rest behind the leading teams in last Sunday's 72-lap race at the Zandvoort Circuit after finishing eighth, ensuring the German secured back-to-back points finishes.

The result came after a dramatic opening lap incident, with Max Verstappen losing control of his Red Bull through the final, high-speed banked turn on a damp track before hitting the wall.

Further back, Bortoleto also lost control and performed a full 360-degree spin before rejoining, but having almost been collected by the following Hulkenberg.

"It was scary, sketchy. You're a passenger," said Hulkenberg about the incident.

"I tried to react as late as possible and then just instinctively chose a side. Obviously I was waiting to see if he was going to slide up or down, on a wet track it's sketchy and difficult. Luckily we managed to avoid that."

Despite the drama, Hulkenberg was eventually able to move ahead of Pierre Gasly's Alpine during the race as they battled through traffic to secure four points for Audi.

Hulkenberg's result means Audi remain P8 in the Teams' standings, now just five points behind Haas while also moving five points clear of Williams.

"Super important for the team and the championship, but for the mood, it gives everyone a lift," said Hulkenberg.

"It confirms the work that we've put in, that we're in the right direction. Very pleased about it, also for me personally, it wasn't the easiest weekend Saturday and Friday. Feels very nice and sweet to come away with something at the end and on a good note."

Having suffered no damage from his spin, Bortoleto took the restarted race from 17th on the grid but was only able to finish P13 at the chequered flag.

"I don't think the first lap is the issue today but it doesn't help for sure," he said.

"I just saw big smoke, I think it was Max who crashed and then I maybe made a small reaction on the steering. I just felt something and then I also lost the car, did a 360 [spin], came back.

"But the issues go a little bit further than that. I don't want to go too much into details because I don't know if I can say, but we just need to understand some stuff that happened today and we move on."