Nico Hülkenberg discusses Audi's Formula 1 debut: "A lot of room for improvement"

On the eve of the new Formula 1 season, Nico Hülkenberg discussed the beginnings of Audi's project in the sport. The German driver believes the team is progressing but is still in a development phase.

While the season of Formula 1 is preparing to make its debut at the Albert Park circuit in Melbourne (Australia), Nico Hulkenberg is about to begin its fifteenth year in the sport and will therefore start a new chapter within the Audi project. The German manufacturer has officially joined the grid with its own structure and power unit, marking one of the most anticipated entries in the sport in recent years.

At 38, the German driver brings a wealth of experience to this new adventure. Present in Formula 1 since 2010, he has driven for several teams on the grid, including Williams, Force India, Renault or, HaasAlso winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2015 with PorscheNico Hülkenberg is one of the most experienced drivers on the grid, a valuable asset to support the development of such an ambitious project alongside a younger, more forward-looking driver. Gabriel Bortoleto.

Winter testing provided a first glimpse of the new car's potential. car, even though the driver remains cautious about the team's actual performance level. "We'll see this weekend. We'll get a first indication. The preseason went well. I think we've made good progress. At the same time, there's still a lot of room for improvement in many areas. We're still a young team, especially in terms of the power unit, obviously, and the only one with our [set]."

"We want to score points"

“Melbourne is a great circuit, very different from Bahrain, so I think it could be a game changer. But we're doing it for the first time in real conditions with these new cars, in qualifying, and especially in the race on Sunday. I think it could be interesting.” For Audi, this first season is a crucial step. The German manufacturer has chosen to develop its own power unit in order to control its entire technical project, a strategy different from many new teams that generally rely on an established engine supplier. This situation also explains why the team still considers itself a learning entity.

In this context, ambitions remain modest for this first full year on the grid. The main objective is to progress throughout the season and build the foundations for a competitive long-term project. “I think it’s also about progress. We start from where we start, but the goal is to grow throughout the year, to improve, to work on our car. Of course, we want to be competitive, we want to score points. What that will mean in concrete terms, obviously, we don’t know yet, having not yet had a race weekend, but I think that progress and our performance throughout the year are very important.”

For Nico Hülkenberg, the key will therefore be the team's evolution over the course of the Grands Prix. In a season marked by new technical regulations and the arrival of several ambitious projects, including Audi and Cadillac, the German driver believes that the overall progress of the car will be the most important indicator for judging Audi's Formula 1 debut.

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