Finally the clean racing team had something to celebrate again: Nico Hülkenberg in Canada followed fifth place at the Grand Prix of Spain. Team boss Jonathan Wheatley In Barcelona, the team donated a few drinks to the team, Hülkenberg recovered after the Canada Grand Prix in New York “Halli Galli, Hu Hi, Ha Ha”.
After the bumpy start of the season, the 37-year-old German gave the future Audi work team 14 of the now 20 points in the recent two races. And at the GP of Austria in Styria, of course, one hopes for a continuation of the strong trend.
Upgrade brings change
A package with innovations for the cars brought the change. Aerodynamics in particular had been filed in the factory in Hinwil near Zurich. Hülkenberg and his young Brazilian teammate Gabriel Bortoleto had reported strong turbulence, especially when the cars in the “Dirty Air“, i.e. in the turbulence in front, were on the go.
“The car is now more constant, you can get more lap time out of it”commented Bortoleto the new driving behavior, “Even under changeable conditions, be it weather, a wet or bumpy course, it is easier to use and get the maximum out.”
Hülkenberg gets more than you can expect
Nico Hülkenberg is currently responsible for “the maximum”. With the experience of his now 237 Formula 1 race, he gets out of the car that has not yet been competitive, “What you can’t expect. He sees the race with a different look that I don’t have yet”said the young Brazilian about the comparison with Hülkenberg, “And I think it is really good in that. I am currently learning a lot from him.”
It is special that “Hulk” manages “Use every single opportunity”according to Hülkenberg’s “apprentice”, “I am convinced that this has a lot to do with experience.” The praised person waves against it and relativizes: it is too “A little luck” According to Hülkenberg, who in Spain of the failure of Kimi Antonelli and a late Safety car-Phase benefited. And also when Montreal Franco Colapinto and Alex Albon Früh “Wanted the wool. I was able to cash out the two of the two and that was an important key to our race”.
Wheatley raves
The native of Emmerich, who has never been on the podium in his Formula 1 career, praised the improvements in the car: “But I also feel, we were simply strong on our own. The pace was neat, worthy of points, and I am very happy that we could capitalize so well.”
How good the performance in Spielberg will be is very excited about Sauber. Before the Canada race, team boss Wheatley was very careful, who, according to the sensational result of the Spain GP, had the feeling for the first time since he took office to take part in a real racing car. “It’s a great feeling”he raved. And also knew who he owed this feeling – his No. 1 driver Hülkenberg: “Give him the chance to shine and he does it.”