Formula One driver Nico Hulkenberg faced an unexpected eye injury during the first day of testing, forcing him to miss the post-session press conference.

The German star was involved in a bizarre incident in the team garage that led to the injury.

A Freak Incident in the Garage

According to reports from Sky Germany, the injury occurred when a speck of dust or sand got lodged in Hulkenberg’s eye.

The mishap happened while the Sauber mechanics were working on the car, carrying out some grinding work on the C45.

It is believed that a small splinter from the grinding work ended up in Hulkenberg’s eye, causing discomfort and prompting him to seek immediate medical attention.

Hulkenberg’s Quick Recovery

Despite the unexpected injury, Hulkenberg managed to complete 55 laps during the session, posting a best time of 1:32.169. Unfortunately, he had to withdraw from the track early to get treated.

Thankfully, the injury wasn’t serious, and the Sauber driver was able to return to action on the second day of testing.

A New Chapter for Hulkenberg at Sauber

Hulkenberg’s injury occurred during his return to Sauber after parting ways with Haas, where he had spent two years.

The German driver had also filled in as a substitute for Haas on several occasions, including in 2023, when he stepped in for Mick Schumacher.

This year, Hulkenberg is part of a new driver lineup at Sauber, alongside Gabriel Bortoleto, the 2024 Formula Two champion.

They are replacing Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu, bringing fresh energy to the Swiss-based team.

Despite the freak injury, Hulkenberg’s career continues to thrive, with an extensive history of driving for top teams like Williams, Force India, Renault, Racing Point, Aston Martin, and Haas.