Nico Hulkenberg believes Sebastian Vettel will start the 2022 Formula 1 season “on the back foot” after missing the opening two rounds of the year.
Prior to the start of the new campaign in Bahrain, Vettel tested positive for Covid-19 and was forced into isolation.
After missing the opening round in Bahrain, Vettel also sat out the second event of the year in Jeddah, with Aston Martin’s reserve driver Hulkenberg replacing him on both occasions.
Vettel will return to action at Melbourne’s Albert Park Circuit, which is set to be his first outing since the final pre-season test in Sakhir.
But with other drivers on the grid having two grand prix weekends of experience with the new 2022 cars, Hulkenberg says the four-time World Champion will be behind when he next climbs into the AMR22.
“Obviously he’s lacking those two races so he will start a little bit on the backfoot,” Hulkenberg said. “But I think you know, he’s very skilled, very talented.
“I think he’s capable of catching up but for sure he has a bit more work to do and he needs to dig a little bit deeper to try and make up for it.”
After the opening two rounds of the year, Aston Martin is one of two teams that has failed to register a point, alongside Williams.
Last weekend in Jeddah, Hulkenberg and Stroll ended the race in 12th and 13th respectively, with the latter getting involved in a late-race incident with Alexander Albon.
