Current Nico Hülkenberg

Never have I known so many people rate a test driver as a future world champion so I thought I'd start a thread for people to pass there opinions on young Nico.

Has an incredible record in other Formula's - won A1 Go in 06, won F3 euro masters in 08, won GP2 in 09 and then came into F1. There was a lot of hype around Mr Hulkenberg in arriving in F1 as he was seen as the next 'Lewis Hamilton' but in all honest in the car he was driving he was never going to be able to match what Lewis did as a rookie the question remains though did he do enough? He scored 25 points to his experienced team-mate Rubens Barrichello's 47 which doesn't look good - however is it unfair to judge a rookie against the most experienced F1 driver in history? Especially a driver who was having a resurgent after being a world championship contender the season before.

To be fair to Hulkenberg he got better as the season went on and it was clear he was getting to grips with F1 - the icing on the cake of course was the brilliant pole he scored in the wet in Brazil. Although tactical he was advised as when to go and on what tyres he still had to produce the time and being on pole by over a second is pretty impressive. I think if Williams could have afforded to keep him on they would have done but needs must when the bank manager drives and poor old Nico was shown the door.

Currently testing with Force India and you have to think that right now he's breathing down Sutil's neck for the race seat. I really hope they take a gamble on him earlier than later as want to see how he fares against Di Resta - I actually think that might be the making of both of them. Currently Di Resta is being praised and lined up for the Merc drive at the moment but you have to say if Hulkenberg comes in and beats him surely Merc would take the Nico option?

Is he as good as he's hyped or does having Will Weber as you manager help you become hyped up? Interestingly back in 2009, when he was being considered for replacing Luca Badoer at Ferrari, Weber stated that Hulkenberg would not take the seat now but he would sign for Ferrari in 3 years time - that makes 2012 - next season!

As mentioned on another thread there have been 2 world champions who have had a season of F1 and then dropped out to take a test driver role for another year - Mika Hakkinen and Fernando Alonso - will Nico make it a hattrick?
 
I think the most I.portent thing to take from the last two seasons for Hulkenberg is that he's being beat by Sergio Perez. Now either Perez is as good as we all thought he was way back or Hulkenberg Isn't.
 
I can't help feeling if they were all using 2008-period Bridgestones that Nico would be a multiple race winner by now. Unfortunately his driving style is one of the most penalised by the current tyre specifications.
 
I find it telling that he did not want to sign for Haas and he was disappointed Bernie changed the calendar so no F1 driver could do Le Mans

It says to me he's not single minded enough to make a big career decision and wants to play it safe.

Perez has taken time to develop but I feel he joined Mclaren at the wrong time and probably it was shoes to big to fill

He is becoming the biggest disappointment in the last decade apart from Kubica who's career ended early in F1
 
Nico will make a very good, even excellent, endurance driver and should make the move sooner rather than later.
 
FB I get the feeling he 's already thinking that way as I don't see the big teams wanting him unless Williams do a surprise swoop but why would they when they have Alex Lynn coming through

Renault will probably want young French drivers in Esteban Ocon

Mclaren have Van Doorne for next year probably

Haas - no room unless Grosjean goes but probably have a US driver instead

Manor - a step backwards

Sauber - forget it

Ferrari - a surprise move given there are much better drivers ahead of him

I don't see Hulkenberg being on the grid next season given Force India's money problems as well
 
well as silly season kicks off Hulkenberg makes another claim for a top drive BUT he does have a contract with Force India for 2017
 
Great news for Hulkenberg moving to renault had to take the risk instead of stagnating & could end up top of a list "best drivers never to win f1 race" or "greatest unfulfilled talent" as hulkenburg shouldve been in a top team by 2013 or 2014. How guy of his talent never linked with top team baffles me as he was 1 of the greatest drivers in youth categories in recent years

IMG_20161014_102651.jpg
 
Sometimes being a great talent is youth categories doesn't guarantee that a driver will succeed in F1. The opposite is also true.

I have a feeling that this move will be great for Nico in more ways that just being able to finally win a race. Renault has just come back to F1 after their hiatus and they can only get better. Last time they did it, they ended up winning back-to-back WCC and their first year back (2001) was very similar to what has happened this year, in one word forgettable. I'm under the impression that Renault is betting on Nico to be "the one" who bring Renault back to the top. Maybe not the one who at the end gets the glory and the championship though.
 
Unfortunately I don't see it happening anytime soon... Renault themselves have been saying getting back into anything like full competitiveness will be a multiple-year job. I fear Nico for the foreseeable future is merely trading an above-average midfield car for a poor car...
 
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This was the move he needs after impressing at Sauber then initially at Force India he keeps getting overlooked by the big teams

Force India will not win a race because the closest they got was Fisichella Spa 2009 due to an odd ball season and Brazil 2012 when Hulkenberg crashed into Hamilton when a race victory was on in the wet/ dry race

They can be 4th best team but will be overtaken by Mclaren who are coming back and later on Renault.

Whenever Renault have been in Formula 1 it takes about 3 years to get it right - they did it in the turbo era and should have won in 1983 no doubt. They were on the pace with Williams by 1991 after coming back in 1989.

When they came back in 2001 they were woeful not similar to now with their radical 111 degree engine and then they started in 2003 they had a race winning car but by 2005-06 they were the leading team.

They've gotten rid of World Series in order to devote their resources to F1 and they aint just going to enter to be at the back especially as they feel the engine deserves more credit than it should have in delivering success for Red Bull

I think Sergio Perez will regret turning them down
 
Last chance saloon for Hulkenberg and a bumper pay .. really an offer he could not turn down

- there has been a few negative comments about Renault's choice that he does not deserve the Renault seat

Frederic Vasseur who manages the Renault team know him well enough from GP2 days and his abilities

If Renault can sort out the car they could be a real surprise next season
 
I know I shouldn't be surprised but Hulkenberg has been very impressive in the opening races of his time at Renault.
 
All he needs is podium I think once he starts getting those he may well really excel

I am impressed that he has come in and asserted himself as the No 1 at Renault and really thrashed Palmer. I just hope he aint a Trulli where he is fast for one lap but does not seem able to sustain it for race pace. I hope this is down to the Renault not being good on it tyres and will find a way to this

Yes he may have less points than both Force India drivers - the team he left but he is showing his class when you consider Magnussen did not want to stay and Perez did not want to join both citing leadership issues . He has taken this opportunity to show himself

The only question remains what if Alonso is his teammate next season seems to be the paddock rumours?
 
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