Skip to main content

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Recommended for you

Wood is a chip off the old block as he takes first win at Brands Hatch 750MC event

National
Wood is a chip off the old block as he takes first win at Brands Hatch 750MC event

Why riders' nationalities have become a problem for Liberty Media in MotoGP

MotoGP
Spanish GP
Why riders' nationalities have become a problem for Liberty Media in MotoGP

McLaren junior leads the way in British F4 as BTCC support series begin at Donington Park

National
McLaren junior leads the way in British F4 as BTCC support series begin at Donington Park

The key takeaways from the BTCC season opener

Feature
BTCC
Donington Park (National Circuit)
The key takeaways from the BTCC season opener

Why the WEC's BoP blackout is a bad call for all parties

Feature
WEC
Imola
Why the WEC's BoP blackout is a bad call for all parties

Are F1's technical changes for Miami enough to ease 2026 concerns?

Feature
Formula 1
Are F1's technical changes for Miami enough to ease 2026 concerns?

FIA confirms changes to 2026 F1 rules ahead of Miami GP

Formula 1
Miami GP
FIA confirms changes to 2026 F1 rules ahead of Miami GP

Wolff warns against ADUO “gamesmanship”: Only one F1 manufacturer has a problem

Formula 1
Wolff warns against ADUO “gamesmanship”: Only one F1 manufacturer has a problem

Paul, looking back on Bahrain you must be pretty satisfied with the weekend as a whole...

I think when you have a result like that you feel very proud of everyone in the team. Everybody stepped up and helped deliver the performance. The strategy was a bold one, but it was the right one and gave us one of our best results in the last couple of years.

Did the test in Mugello help your preparations for Barcelona?

We didn't do a massive number of laps but it was a chance to start evaluating some of our car developments. There's still plenty of work to do in free practice to get on top of the car, but we've already done the basic checks.

Are you looking forward to getting back to racing in Europe?

I probably know Barcelona better than any other track on the calendar. We did two tests there in the winter and I had four days in the car so I already feel quite well prepared, but it's the same for everyone. I expect the field to be incredibly close once again.

Nico Hulkenberg

Nico, the start of the European season is upon us. Are you looking forward to racing in Barcelona?

It's a track I enjoy and where I've been successful in the past. It's high-speed, there are lots of right hand corners and it's quite tough physically, especially on your neck. As a city I enjoy being in Barcelona because it's a great place with a nice atmosphere. Also, the stands are always full on race day because the Spanish fans love Formula One.

What are the main challenges of the lap?

The first sector through turns one, two and three is tricky and you need to treat them as one corner. A mistake in one or two will hurt you through three and cost your laptime. It feels great when you get them just right. Also, the final sector is quite technical: it's slow and twisty, especially the last chicane and it's easy to drop time at the end of the lap.

How are you feeling about the 2012 season after four races?

I feel very comfortable in the team and I'm enjoying the season. A few of the races haven't worked out for me, but I'm looking forward not backwards and determined to get some great results for the team. I'm working well with my car crew, we are pushing hard and we will try our best to get back in the points this weekend.

Previous article Sauber says it needs just a small step to return to the chase for podiums
Next article Force India unsure new update package will mean progress at Spanish Grand Prix

Top Comments