Nico Hülkenberg shares his enduring love for F1’s speed and competition, reflecting on memorable moments and the dynamics of paddock friendships.
“Dedicated, straightforward, and fun”: these are the three words Nico Hülkenberg uses to describe his own personality.
The German driver is currently shining with Haas F1 but will join the Stake/Audi project next year.
But let’s go back to the beginning. Where did the 37-year-old driver’s passion for motorsport come from?
“I think I was fascinated by cars, speed, and the performance of these cars from a very young age, and I still am… The adrenaline that comes with it… And I love the competition!”
A tricky question: Alexander Albon recently confessed he failed his driving test the first time. What about Nico Hülkenberg?
“Oh. I think it was more of a test for the examiner! But I passed it the first time, of course.”
In the paddock, do you make more enemies than friends? Who would be Nico Hülkenberg’s ‘best mates’ in the pit lane today?
“Quite a few people. Over the years, you get to work with so many good people that you make friends and stay friends with many of them. For now, I would say our catering team at Haas, because they really take care of me! They do a fantastic job taking care of the team on a culinary level, but also looking after me, weekend after weekend. In fact, they play a crucial role in an F1 team.”
“Obviously, I have a few… Not really many good friends, but two, three, a handful of very close friends to whom I would open up or talk about very private things. Some date back to childhood and others, I’ve known for about a decade.”
If he were to invite three historic F1 personalities to dinner… who would he choose?
“Oh, the choices are bountiful, good heavens! I would choose James Hunt, to see if what they say about his lifestyle is true! I think Alan Jones would be another entertaining character, and then I would choose Nigel Mansell.”
And if Nico Hülkenberg were a team principal, which line-up would he choose… aside from himself, of course!
“Once again, there’s a wealth of talent to choose from! A tough question, a tricky question… I would choose Michael Schumacher, Niki Lauda and for team principal… I would choose Ross Brawn.”
During his career, Nico Hülkenberg has received numerous pieces of advice, some more prudent than others… What was the best advice he ever received?
“That sometimes you have to take a step back to make several steps forward.”
And the worst advice?
“I don’t know… I tend to forget bad advice quite quickly!”
What was also the worst gift he has received from a fan, or the strangest gift?
“I don’t know if it’s strange, but there is one that comes to mind very recently, this year or last year in Melbourne. A fan of Kevin Magnussen handed me a book… I believe it was a book about Kevin, I’m not even sure if it’s his biography, but he asked if I could get it signed by Kevin, so of course I got it signed by Kevin and returned it to him!”
A frequently cited sad statistic about Nico Hülkenberg is that he is the driver who has competed in the most Grands Prix without having been on the podium. However, the German has also had some remarkable moments in his career: which does he consider the most memorable?
“I like to think back often to the ‘Hulken-back’ times, and it was in 2020, at the Nurburgring, which was quite mad… [a stint with Racing Point]. From the sofa at home to qualifying three hours later, then finishing 8th on Sunday with no preparation, it was quite special.”
And if he were to advise youngsters aspiring to reach the pinnacle of motorsport, what would be the best advice to give?
“It’s a lot of work. You have to commit fully, make no compromises, surround yourself with good, strong people who can really contribute, help, and advise you.”
Finally, where does Nico Hülkenberg see himself in five years? Still in F1?
“In a situation where I am happy.”
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Nürburgring Glory: Hülkenberg Recalls His Finest Hour Nürburgring Glory: Hülkenberg Recalls His Finest Hour. f1 2024 Nürburgring Glory: Hülkenberg Recalls His Finest Hour
