Nico Hulkenberg insisted on being “keen, not desperate” on his F1 return after substituting for Sebastian Vettel

Nico Hulkenberg insisted on being “keen, not desperate” on his F1 return after substituting for Sebastian Vettel

Sebastian Vettel and Nico Hulkenberg

Sebastian Vettel tested positive for Covid-19 right before the beginning of the 2022 season resulting in him missing the season openers, Bahrain, and the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix. In his absence, Nico Hulkenberg, their reserve driver instead took Vettel’s place until he gets a negative test result again.

Nico Hulkenberg first raced in Formula One in 2010 with the Williams team and after many splendid years on and off track, he was replaced by Esteban Ocon ahead of the 2020 season, after which Nico remained with the Silverstone-based, Aston Martin team to fulfill reserved and development roles within the team supporting Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll, meanwhile Hulkenberg has not been racing for any other category.

In the season opener, Nico Hulkenberg did not have the ideal finish when he passed the line at P17 but before his return to Formula One, he admitted to having “zero” experience racing over the last year, reflecting on a “very difficult” first taste of the 2022 cars but the second race on the calendar saw improvement in the pace of the reserve.

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“Of course, I miss racing, that’s natural but I’m keen, not desperate,” he said after finishing 12th in Jeddah and did make an improvement during the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix by finishing P12. “If it’s not to be… I was more or less mentally done with it, and obviously these things now, because of corona, did happen – 2020 and now, and who knows what might happen for the future.” Added Nico.

Nico Hulkenberg talks about the season-opening races

Nico Hulkenberg to drive for Aston Martin for the Bahrain GP
Nico Hulkenberg to temporarily drive for Aston Martin

Hulkenberg had zero to minimal time for race-specific preparation as his return was confirmed just a day before track action had gotten underway in Bahrain. Here, Nico was reunited with Kevin Magnussen, who also was out of seat by the end of 2020 and made a return to the Haas team after Nikita Mazepin was banned from racing due to his nationality.

The two had a fun little banter going on when Nico was asked if he also was struggling with his neck in qualifying as Kevin Magnussen did, he replied saying, “Maybe I’m fitter than expected or because it’s not so hot but I’ve had tougher races, in the heat especially.”

Nico then proceeds to talk about the troubles he faced due to the safety car in Saudi Arabia Grand Prix but without that, he had no idea where he would finish either. “Better than expected, so that was good, and I’m very happy and proud of my race. It was clean, faultless. I did everything I could with the car I had.” Added Nico.

The Australian Grand Prix is on April 8th and the team has not officially announced the return of Sebastian Vettel or Nico Hulkenberg’s continuation on the gird, but Sebastian Vettel reported to be feeling a lot better and is waiting for a negative report before he returns back to the paddock.

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