Nico Hulkenberg

[Kirk]

Apparently Nico Hulkenberg is getting a test drive with Williams which doesn’t surprise me from what I witnessed last year. In case the name does not ring a bell, Nico was the German driver in A1GP last year and he was dominant in (theoretically) equal machinery. I admit that I know very little of this guy, therefore I ask, does anyone else think that he could do well in F1?

[alonso11]

Here are the standings from an hour ago:

9 Timo Glock Toyota TF107 1:21.336 + 2.181 0
10 Giancarlo Fisichella Force India F8-VII 1:21.424 + 2.269 0
11 Marc Gene Ferrari F2007 1:21.432 + 2.277 0
12 Mike Conway Super Aguri F1 SA07 1:21.539 + 2.384 0
13 Nico Hulkenberg Williams FW29 1:21.551 + 2.396 0
14 Franck Montagny Force India F8-VII 1:21.559 + 2.404 0
15 Nelson Piquet Jr. Renault R27 1:21.592 + 2.437 0
16 Gary Paffett McLaren MP4-22 1:21.953 + 2.798 0
17 Kamui Kobayashi Toyota TF107 1:22.936 + 3.781 0
18 Kazuki Nakajima Williams FW29 1:23.480 + 4.325 0
19 Javier Villa BMW Sauber F1.07 1:23.503 + 4.348

The guy only knew about this test for barely a week according to F1total the whole thing was a rush, he doesnt know the track and he's already mixing with ... well drivers with more experience anyway.

He's testing two days, and by the end of the second one, Williams might realize they woulda been better off with two German Nico's rather a Nico and a Pitcrew-assassin

[flor]

btw it's either Hülkenberg or Huelkenberg

[strider]

Today's times:

Pos  Driver        Team                      Time      Laps
 1.  Heidfeld      BMW-Sauber           (B)  1:19.042   73
 2.  Button        Honda                (B)  1:19.155   65
 3.  de la Rosa    McLaren-Mercedes     (B)  1:19.712   48
 4.  Raikkonen     Ferrari              (B)  1:20.083   73
 5.  Piquet        Renault              (B)  1:20.366   66
 6.  Bourdais      Toro Rosso-Ferrari   (B)  1:20.615   97
 7.  Paffett       McLaren-Mercedes     (B)  1:20.638   50
 8.  Webber        Red Bull-Renault     (B)  1:20.682   65
 9.  Gene          Ferrari              (B)  1:20.832   67
10.  Conway        Super Aguri-Honda    (B)  1:20.927   87
11.  Vettel        Toro Rosso-Ferrari   (B)  1:21.086   45
12.  Rossiter      Super Aguri-Honda    (B)  1:21.246   71
13.  Glock         Toyota               (B)  1:21.336   69
14.  Fisichella    Force India-Ferrari  (B)  1:21.424   41
15.  Hülkenberg    Williams-Toyota      (B)  1:21.556   28
16.  Montagny      Force India-Ferrari  (B)  1:21.559   65
17.  Nakajima      Williams-Toyota      (B)  1:21.586   33
18.  Asmer         BMW-Sauber           (B)  1:21.962   57
19.  Kobayashi     Toyota               (B)  1:22.186  111
20.  Villa         BMW-Sauber           (B)  1:23.583   53

Heidfeld and Button were on slicks. Interesting that Hülkenberg was quicker than Nakajima.

[MCWB]

Originally Posted by strider

Interesting that Hülkenberg was quicker than Nakajima.

And Bourdais quicker than Vettel...

[NAC]

Originally Posted by Kirk

I admit that I know very little of this guy, therefore I ask, does anyone else think that he could do well in F1?

He could do well in F1, apart from his driving ability the other thing that might help him secure a drive is his manager, Will Webber

[Raven]

The Hulk is still too green.

[Sev]

I still wonder why he's doing another year in F3 though, he's clearly too good for that.

He scored more points than anyone in the second half of the season, and has now topped Nakajima - recognised as one of last years fastest GP2 drivers.

Unless he wants to go for a Hamilton style championship, I can't help but think he'd be better trained in GP2.

[cds_uk]

Bit off topic but that is a good time by Mike Conway.

[alonso11]

Originally Posted by cds_uk

Bit off topic but that is a good time by Mike Conway.

Yea not too bad, btw he was driving the Honda and not the Super-Aguri as most of the sites seem to claim he did. Besides, as long as they can get Filippi I dont really see whats the point of giving Conway the seat-time.

Filippi was without a question better in GP2. Then they invited both of them for a test in Barcelona test, OK, they wanted to see if the Supernova data is to be belived. And yes, Filippi was again more impressive. Why Conway got this test opportunity in Jerez is beyond me. Something tells me Filippi will be -again- more impressive (he is also scheduled for a Jerez outing)

[av8rirl]

Originally Posted by strider

Heidfeld and Button were on slicks.

Why?

[Speedworx]

Before I decide on Nico Hulkenberg, I'd like to see him in GP2. He wasn't convincing in F3 Euroseries.

[strider]

Originally Posted by av8rirl

Why?

It's part of an exercise being carried out this week, hence the extra day. They have to run anticipated 2009 downforce levels, about equivalent to Monza now, which is why they were not that much faster. Other teams will try them tomorrow and so on.

[Satorian]

Originally Posted by Raven

The Hulk is still too green.

Hmmm, he strikes me as a fellow that is able to adapt quickly. I followed his A1GP season closely, and I think the would find his groove in F1 within a very short amount of time.

They should just throw him in at the deep end. I'm confident he would cope superbly.

[Armco Bender]

1. Lewis Hamilton Suzuki Liana (B) 1:15.042 3
2. Heidfeld BMW-Sauber (B) 1:19.042 73
3. Button Honda (B) 1:19.155 65
4. de la Rosa McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:19.712 48
5. Raikkonen Ferrari (B) 1:20.083 73
6. Piquet Renault (B) 1:20.366 66
7. Bourdais Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:20.615 97
8. Paffett McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:20.638 50
9. Webber Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:20.682 65
10. Gene Ferrari (B) 1:20.832 67
11. Conway Super Aguri-Honda (B) 1:20.927 87
12. Vettel Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:21.086 45
13. Rossiter Super Aguri-Honda (B) 1:21.246 71
14. Glock Toyota (B) 1:21.336 69
15. Fisichella Force India-Ferrari (B) 1:21.424 41
16. Hülkenberg Williams-Toyota (B) 1:21.556 28
17. Montagny Force India-Ferrari (B) 1:21.559 65
18. Nakajima Williams-Toyota (B) 1:21.586 33
19. Asmer BMW-Sauber (B) 1:21.962 57
20. Kobayashi Toyota (B) 1:22.186 111
21. Villa BMW-Sauber (B) 1:23.583 53


Sorry ...I read the 'other' thread first.......

Oh yeah,I saw Nico H in the A1GP here,he looks like the real deal,reminds a bit of when a K.Rosberg came down here and cleaned up,I think he did well too.

[Fletcher]

Originally Posted by flor

btw it's either Hülkenberg or Huelkenberg

Be sure to spell Kimi's name Raeikkoenen then, too.

[BootsOntheSide]

Umlauts aren't just for heavy metal, you know.

Good times from Nico H so far - thankfully not good enough to make a Nico/Nico driver line-up likely for Williams.

[flor]

Originally Posted by Fletcher

Be sure to spell Kimi's name Raeikkoenen then, too.

i just write kimi

[Mekola]

Originally Posted by hakkiman

Before I decide on Nico Hulkenberg, I'd like to see him in GP2. He wasn't convincing in F3 Euroseries.

Well, you know the story... Alonso wasn't the best driver in F3000 when he raced there... Mansell was quite good in his F2/F3 days... F1 people mind is at is, and ever thinks that, when you enter their scheme on the first time, no matter what you raced before, you have to impress.
Hülkenberg did it in style - it's his promenade to a probably secure future in F1. Handed by Willi Weber, of course.

[alonso11]

Originally Posted by Mekola

... Alonso wasn't the best driver in F3000 when he raced there...

Yes he was, safe to say he was the most impressive that year. No wonder his card landed in most F1 boss' wallets.

Even though he won a race with 3wheels on (!) Nobody expected much from a 18yrs old coming from some virtually unkown Spanish junior series with barely a season of experience in single-seaters, racing for Astromega (a good midfilder at best) up againts a bunch of seasoned veterans. And still, the way he improved over the course of the season left little doubt he could easly walk away with the title next year.

People with one year of experience barely make it to GP2/F3000 level, let alone winning there (even now, with the reverse grid thing) when it happens you do notice it. And it can easly mean more than drivers like Wilson or Enge or Bourdais winning or almost winning the title in their 3rd-4th-5th seasons driving for the best teams.

You need to put results in perspective, without doing so you might even think that Wilson is better than Webber, but in reality they are not even in the same league. Give them any random car non of them raced before and Webber will be faster than Wilson in 20 out of 20 laps.

[Kirk]

Originally Posted by alonso11

You need to put results in perspective, without doing so you might even think that Wilson is better than Webber, but in reality they are not even in the same league. Give them any random car non of them raced before and Webber will be faster than Wilson in 20 out of 20 laps.

Webber, you say, what's his first name? I must check him out. Oh, you mean notoriously overrated Mark. Yeah right!

[Super Hans]

Originally Posted by alonso11

You need to put results in perspective, without doing so you might even think that Wilson is better than Webber, but in reality they are not even in the same league. Give them any random car non of them raced before and Webber will be faster than Wilson in 20 out of 20 laps.

20 laps without mechanic failure? That'd be something of a record for Webber.

Seriously though, I admire both Webber and Wilson, and whilst I agree that Webber probably has the edge, I wouldn't say they were in different leagues.

[alonso11]

Originally Posted by Super Hans

..I wouldn't say they were in different leagues.

You are probably right. Same leauge, just like Chelsea and Fulham