Nico Hulkenberg talks about the highlights of F1 2024 so far and the small steps taken in the winter into the season for the results they have.
Prior to the start of F1 2024, Haas kept relatively low expectation for itself considering how their 2023 season went. They were cautiously optimistic, but stressed that they will start the year at the back of the pack and hoped for a gradual step.
That’s what happened with them as well. After a slower start, Haas has picked up pace that they are now only seven points behind Visa Cash App RB in the battle for sixth. The small steps taken by the American outfit has been key as per Hulkenberg.
“The small steps during the year were important,” he said to media. “But already the starting point where we started the season was much better and much healthier than last year. And that just goes back to the changes we did at the end of last year. And then the other restructuring just meant that we put a much more competitive package you on the road then then what we thought, than last year.
“It goes back to the aerodynamic package and platform. I feel that’s where we made the biggest changes and improvements over the winter. And that just allowed us, or gives us that consistency and performance to be consistent and to deliver. And it just shows how powerful the aero side is and how important,” summed up Hulkenberg.
When asked about the highlights of his season so far outside the two sixth place finishes, Hulkenberg noted of the consistent run that he has had even when not scoring. In the 14 outings, he has finished 11th five times and only twice outside the Top 15.
Even if they missed on points, the pace is good enough to hover around to capitalise. “It’s just the consistency and the base performance,” noted Hulkenberg. “I don’t know how often we score points as a team with those cars, but also how often I was 11th, sniffing at points and not far off it.
“So I think that just shows the transformation and recovery from last year where we were nowhere near the points on a Sunday. I think that is the real highlight and the good news, that we over one winter as a team managed to really turn that around and put a competitive package on the road. Regardless of which type of circuit.”
The goal is to attain sixth and beat Visa Cash App RB to it. With the updates working for them and not for their rival, Hulkenberg feels it is attainable under the guidance of Ayao Komatsu. The German has good word for the new team principal’s work so far.
“We’re racing for it [P6],” said Hulkenberg. “But you see the RBs, they’re competitive. Aston is competitive. And it depends a little bit weekend by weekend, track by track who has the edge. But it is a race for us like at the front. At the front obviously for the championship, but us for P6, and the race is on.
“Every weekend matters, every point matters. But I’m hopeful and optimistic, and I know that everyone in the team is ready for the fight and hungry to to achieve that. Under Ayao, the team feels the same. Obviously the the main man is different, different style of management, different style of leadership and new inputs.
“That can be refreshing or is refreshing as well. But it all goes back, if you have a competitive package that allows you to compete for points, it’s just a better environment and a happy environment,” summed up Hulkenberg.
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