Hülkenberg speaks to AUTOhebdo: “Of course I have some regrets”

Nico Hulkenberg (Renault) could well end his career in Formula 1 at the end of the 2019 season. The German, soon replaced by Esteban Ocon alongside Daniel Ricciardo, refused an offer in IndyCar and faces a critical reduction in exit doors in other teams.

Met face-to-face on the sidelines of the Singapore Grand Prix (to be found in issue 2234, available in digital version), the winner of 24 Hours of Le Mans 2015 with Porsche could have walled itself in a facade speech. However, his responses were those of an honest man about his missed opportunities in F1.

Thus, he returns unvarnished to a huge opportunity for victory, that of the 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix. In the rain at Interlagos, the Force India driver was able to take the lead to the detriment of Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) before hooking the Briton:

“There was a real chance of overtaking him, he remembers. I had to grab it. Otherwise, you have to change careers. Well, the maneuver went wrong and it looks bad. I could have avoided the collision but I'm not going to self-flagellate for 107 years either. 

I digested all that. Of course, there is sometimes frustration, bitterness even, but I personally know what the circumstances are and I sleep very well at night. »

This excitement in “money time” was explained by his boss Cyril Abiteboul, at the end of a German Grand Prix where again Nico Hülkenberg cracked. “That’s what Cyril told you after Germany!” I do not agree with this analysis. A few mistakes, a bad career choice, and we quickly find ourselves in the current situation. It doesn't take much to achieve your goals. It's all in the details in F1. »

One might think Nico Hülkenberg is bitter about his statistics (172 GP, zero podiums, a record). No way ! “Of course I have some regrets, about certain things, certain decisions, certain situations. But it's part of life and learning, he analyzes.

When you start in F1, you are a young man so inevitably you are going to make mistakes, you have to limit them because you will learn the necessary lessons from them. Ultimately, I've been here for 10 years, 10 fun and intense seasons. They could have been more successful, but they could have been much worse too. And that suits me very well. »

Well, looking a little, there are key moments that Nico Hülkenberg was unable to capture. " I tell myself that Maybe it wasn't the best decision leave Force India for the first time at the end of the 2012 season. But it's always complicated to know if your decision, taken at a time T, will pay off at time T + 1.

In 2012, Sauber had a great car, very competitive (Sergio Pérez had signed three podiums. Editor’s note), but we had a very complicated start to the 2013 season. The situation has improved over time (4th in South Korea. editor's note), but that wasn't what I had in mind when I decided to change teams, especially since Force India started to do well over the same period. »

The story would surely have been different if he hadn't slipped into Senna's S in 2012...