Nico Hulkenberg remains “100%” happy with his decision to return to Formula 1 in 2023, despite the struggles Haas has encountered.
After being dropped by Renault at the end of 2019, the experienced German driver completed his full-time comeback to the grid this year with the Haas team.
While he has managed to advance to Q3 on six occasions, Hulkenberg has only amassed nine points, with team-mate Kevin Magnussen adding just a further two.
Haas’ attempts to score points have been consistently stymied by a VF-23 car that punishes its tyres quicker than the competition.
When asked by Motorsport.com to describe the feeling of encountering such regular performance swings through a weekend Hulkenberg responded: “We keep fighting, we keep working.
“When we signed and I started here, I knew it was not just going to be sunny days. There’s also going to be tough days and work ahead of us.
Although Hulkenberg admits it’s been tough on the entire team to not convert its promising one-lap showings, the 35-year-old claims the positives still outweigh the issues Haas has experienced in 2023.
“Of course, in that moment on Sundays, or during the race and right after, it is a bit frustrating, and it is a bit disappointing,” he acknowledged. “Not just for me but for the whole team. Because we’re all in it.
“And you have a great Saturday and obviously you feel hyped, expectations, especially from the outside, go up.
“But I think we’ve known for a couple of months now; the Sunday issues are just too big at the moment – to manage expectations within the team.
“But it still gives me pleasure. I still enjoy being back a lot and all the positives outweigh the problems on Sundays.”
Questioned on whether he remained happy with his decision to return to F1, Hulkenberg, who made five deputy appearances for Racing Point/Aston Martin before the Haas opportunity arose, said: “Oh, yes – 100%.”
Hulkenberg has also expanded on the reasons behind Haas being unable to get on top of this year’s tyres, stating it’s “actually very simple” behind the wheel.
“It’s just a loss of grip,” he explained. “And when you lose total grip, not just one particular area or one axle, you just start sliding more.
“Sliding produces heat, uses the tyres more and that’s just obviously a vicious circle then.
“But the wrong way around. It’s the reason why we have difficult Sundays – because I think we do suffer more than our main competitors, let’s say.
“But also, generally the car, the way it’s designed and built, it’s very good at switching on tyres, which obviously works out well in qualifying.
“But, in the race, it tends to overwork the tyre when you have to do really long stints and that’s when it’s working out not so well.”
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