Nico Hülkenberg makes a promising start in the desert. The Formula 1 returnee does not want to overestimate the first day of practice with Haas for the Bahrain Grand Prix.
After his strong Bahrain start, Formula 1 returnee Nico Hulkenberg joked.
“I wish I’d pulled out a few tenths and kept them in my pocket,” said the 35-year-old Haas pilot in a good mood after the first day of practice in Sakhir. Hülkenberg ended the second session of the day surprisingly well in fifth place, only 0.469 seconds behind leader Fernando Alonso in the Aston Martin (1:30.907 minutes).
The race Sunday was decisive, however, emphasized the Rhinelander. “Obviously that’s the goal and that’s what matters. I feel like we still have a lot of work to do and some homework to do.”
“Little things can make a huge difference”
Hülkenberg was last a substitute driver at Aston Martin and has now taken over the main cockpit of the retired Mick Schumacher at Haas. “It’s interesting how quickly you get used to it,” said Hulkenberg about his smooth adjustment phase at the new racing team.
He currently sees Haas “somewhere in midfield, but that’s a big concept with many racing teams that play along. Little things can make a huge difference, three or four places,” he explained.
The results of the opening practice day should be taken with a pinch of salt, because you don’t know exactly how the cars turned their fast laps with a lot of fuel in their tanks. “Everything is subject to change,” said Hulkenberg. “It remains exciting to see how things develop at different circuits.”
The drivers tested in Bahrain last week and are now contesting the first Grand Prix of the year on Sunday (4:00 p.m. CET/Sky) also in the kingdom.
Source: Stern
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