Dennis Hauger (20) was likely to find himself on the podium in Sunday’s Formula 2 main race at the Melbourne Grand Prix. With only three laps to go, the Norwegian is hit.

– It was unreal when I got hit by (Victor) Martins. Turbo failure in Bahrain and then this. It’s heavy, but I have no choice, says Hauger.

The drama started early in the race. From the eighth lap of the race, the safety car had to take to the track when Jak Crawford went out.

Many drivers, including Hauger, took the opportunity to make the mandatory pit stop. After that, the aurskoginger climbed the ranks, and with better tires than the riders in front of him, he was in theory in third place after 16 out of 33 laps.

On lap 26, the safety car had to return to the track when the Israeli Roy Nissany hit the wall. Hauger then moved up to third place, while the leader, Dane Frederik Vesti, made his pit stop.

While cleanup work continued, Enzo Fittipaldi also crashed. Thus, the race was decided with only three laps. Then things turned sour for Hauger.

Frenchman Victor Martins hit the Norwegian from behind as the race restarted, Hauger spun and was out of the race.

The Norwegian therefore finished without points. Hauger started the race from the tenth starting position.

The race won by Japanese Ayumu Iwasa won Sunday’s race ahead of Frenchman Théo Pourchaire. Arthur Leclerc of Monaco finished third.

After today’s race, Hauger sits seventh overall in the Formula 2 championship. The Norwegian’s next race weekend is in Baku, Azerbaijan, 28-30. April.