After the bitter European Championship exit, the only German driver in Formula 1 is providing some reconciliation. The best Ferrari driver was in the Haas during qualifying in Silverstone. Equipped with a Scuderia engine, Nico Hülkenberg sensationally landed in P6. Ahead of regular drivers (and Spaniards) Carlos Sainz in P7 and Charles Leclerc in P11. Although the “Super Hulk” had already almost been eliminated in Q1.
Sergio Perez almost causes Haas disaster in qualifying
“Yes, that was much too close for my liking,” said Nico Hülkenberg, analyzing his near-failure in the first qualifying segment. As the last driver, comfortably waiting in the garage for the track to dry out, he almost got into trouble when the red flag was raised by Sergio Perez.
The Emmerich driver just managed to make it into Q2 in P15. How did that happen? “We said: OK, it will soon be time for slicks,” Hülkenberg explains his team’s wait-and-see plan. “That took a little longer than expected, then the red flag of Checo.”
In the end, rain also came along. “It was a very tricky situation. In the end, my lap was just good enough to get through. Otherwise it would have been quite a catastrophe!” said next year’s Audi factory driver.
Instead of the disaster, he ended up in sixth place on the grid, directly in the top team sandwich behind Mercedes, Lando Norris, Max Verstappen, Oscar Piastri and ahead of Carlos Sainz. Even more would have been possible: In Q3, the 36-year-old drove the fastest time in the first sector and a personal best time in the second.
“I ran out of road in turn 13. I had a lot of understeer and then couldn’t hold the line,” Nico Hülkenberg explains the time loss in the last sector. “That destroyed the tires and I had nothing left in turn 15.”
Nico Hülkenberg: Can beat all but top teams at Silverstone
Nico Hülkenberg already presented himself strongly on Friday (albeit with a revved engine and good weather). The reason for this was also the completely revamped VF-24. Finally an update that works. “That was definitely a part of it. It is difficult to judge exactly how much [das Update ausgemacht hat]but I was really happy,” he says, pleased with the new pieces.
“I felt it immediately yesterday in FP2,” says the Haas driver. In FP1, only rookie driver Oliver Bearman drove the new parts. “In the past, I’ve had a different experience – when you install updates and don’t notice them. But this time it was really noticeable and very positive!”
Nico Hülkenberg is expecting a battle for the 52 laps of the Silverstone Circuit in the race – regardless of the weather. Even if not with the top teams. “The top four teams are out of reach,” he says. “But we can fight with all the others behind them. Maybe we’ll even be a bit faster than them.”
There was also a lot going on at Haas off the track. On Friday, Oliver Bearman was confirmed as the driver for 2025. According to the latest information, his teammate will be Esteban Ocon. You can find out all about it in this article.