Archive. The story of Hülkenberg's incredible pole with Williams

In 2010, the stable Williams relies on an alliance between the experience of Rubens Barrichello (vice-champion in 2009 with Brawn and aged 38 at the time) and the passion of Nico Hulkenberg, hired at the age of 22 on the strength of his GP2 Series title. The latter discovers the harshness of Formula 1 from his first event in Bahrain, where he gives up by spinning off alone in the first round.

The beginner then finished six times in the points but was logically dominated by his Brazilian teammate. Brazil is precisely where his season will change, precisely during qualifying. On November 6, the sky is threatening and leaves rain pours on the Interlagos circuit during the first phase of testing.

Nico Hülkenberg is not used to this type of exercise, but manages to take his FW32 to Q3, which is already an appreciable result for a mid-table team. There, the temperatures rise again and it is uno drying trajectory which awaits the ten remaining pilots.

If a portion of the track is completely dry, the shoulders and curbs are waterlogged. The best ones get screwed, like Mark Webber (Red Bull) and Robert Kubica (Renault) who slip away three minutes from time.

The teams are calling back the drivers to replace rain tires with slick compounds. ©J.-F. Galleron / WRI2

Simultaneously, Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) is on provisional pole, which would put him back in the saddle for the world title. Because the Brazilian Grand Prix constitutes the penultimate meeting of the season, and four men can still win the crown over so many different teams (Hag, Webber, Alonso, Hamilton, that's a change of the years V6 Turbo Hybrid). In short, for them, the pressure is extreme and they should not get a bad position on the grid.

For Nico Hülkenberg, the obligation to achieve results is also present. It is rumored that a certain Venezuelan named Pastor Maldonado could replace him in 2011, the latter being armed with a big check signed by the national oil company...

Fully focused on his piloting, theGerman is in sixth place three minutes from the end of Q3. He is shod with rubber for dry track ; the slightest excursion on the wet part of the road and he can say goodbye in his turn. But then he begins to move up the rankings.

Above all, do not stray from the trajectory. © J.-F. Galeron / WRI2

His name suddenly appears at the top of the table 1'20'' from the checkered flag. Unbelievable ! But above all, we must not relax. The proof, Lewis Hamilton regains the advantage by 99 thousandths in stride. Then, the valiant Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) is in the lead by 285 thousandths.

With only five seconds left, Nico Hülkenberg returned to the timing line, with a lap five tenths faster than the double world champion ! With such a lead, the Williams seems well anchored in first place…

The British garage watches the arrival of the competitors on the straight in calm and impatience. Robert Kubica, Lewis Hamilton, Mark Webber: they all beat their personal bests, but failed to dethrone the German youngster. The gifted Sebastian Vettel (Red But) takes off but he finishes behind by 57 thousandths!

La car blue and white finally arrives. In addition to securing the pole, Nico Hülkenberg inflicts a correction on the most experienced by beating his own lap by almost a second (992 thousandths)! “He made us look like average pilots”, recognized Mark Webber.

“Damn, I was at that!” Sebastian, you were more than a second away… © J.-F. Galeron / WRI2

“My first pole is a very emotional and I hope historic moment, because I plan to stay in F1 for a long time, rejoiced Nico Hülkenberg at a press conference. I'm still shaking! It was a good ride, with no mistakes. There were still wet sections, especially at the last turn. » We want to believe it when we watch our ride on the on-board camera:

It was then the first pole for Williams since 100 races and Nick Heidfeld at the Nürburgring in 2005. For the engine manufacturer Cosworth, he had never had a pole since 1999 in France!

The 1 A2007 GP champion's driving was so ideal that questions about his car's settings circulated. “It was our dry track set-up, replied Tom McCullough, the poleman's engineer. If we look at his data, he was very engaged, especially in the high-speed corners. It is really good in changing conditions. »

Nine years later (before the 2018 Belgian Grand Prix), Nico Hülkenberg only has one pole to his name. Williams has done little better, with Pastor Maldonado's green carpet pole in Spain in 2012. Its flamboyant result was of no use because Nico Hülkenberg was fired from Williams at the end of 2010 in favor of the same Pastor Maldonado…

 “Well done Nico, but your pole doesn’t bring us anything! » © J.-F. Galeron / WRI2