Formula 1 testing is all about optimism and hope for those who suit up and get into the car. Optimism about the vehicle and hoping it will perform better than before. Renault‘s number one driver, Germany’s Nico Hulkenberg, said today that the French team is “much more mature and like a grown operation and unit”. This, looking back is a precise assessment.
Formula 1 Testing – Hulkenberg trusting Renault´s Process
Renault’s Return
Since their comeback as a constructor in 2016, Renault has scored 65 championship points in 41 races. But 67 of those points were achieved in 2017, when the Enstone-based team progressed from ninth in the constructors’ championship in 2016 to sixth last season.
Renault’s last victory was in the 2008 Japanese Grand Prix when Fernando Alonso was on top of his game and drove the R28 to its second straight win (after Singapore 2008) that season at Fuji. Their last podium was in Malaysia 2011 courtesy of Nick Heidfeld, but Hulkenberg believes they are headed in the right direction.
Hulk’s Optimism and Hopes
“The car build, how the car is running and what we achieved is 100 degrees better than last year. So that’s all very, very good. It’s what the target was but also what we need to do if we want to succeed with this project.”
The German feels the team is prepared for the inaugural GP of the year in Melbourne. “I feel good. I feel positive. We’ve collected a lot of miles and a lot of data and pretty much successfully got through our programme. Which is not always that normal in winter testing.”
The Australian GP will be Hulkenberg’s 136 Grand Prix start since his debut with Williams in 2010. The German hasn’t reached a podium spot in his F1 journey and is eager to improve his luck with Renault and upgrade his results from last year.
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