Williams rookie Nico Hulkenberg knows he must deliver from the very beginning of the F1 season, after claiming there will be no grace period for him to get up to speed.
He has set some ambitious targets for the season. While the likes of Jaime Alguersuari and Roman Grosjean were thrust into the sport with very little experience meaning it took them several races before they were on the pace, Hulkenberg knows he must be on the pace at his very first Grand Prix.
“That is the target, for sure,” he explained. “There is nobody who says that you have five races to get up to speed, and to deliver. It is straightaway you have to be good.
“Williams expect me to deliver a good job, to drive quickly and do well for them. They would not appoint me as a driver if they didn’t expect something from me. They have not said what that is in terms of numbers or results, but expectations are always there.
“I feel a lot more self confident and ready for F1,” said Hulkenberg.
Hulkenberg won the 2009 GP2 championship and reckons if he can adapt as quickly as he did in the feeder series, he should have a good shot at being competitive in F1.
“I had a great year in 2009 and I didn’t expect at all to be that competitive in GP2. I expected a very difficult year, but it turned out okay – and the second half of the season was mega.
“If I can adapt as quickly as I did in GP2, then it will be very good. The testing amount is not huge before the first race, but I will do my best to get there as quickly as possible.”
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