Haas Team Principal Guenther Steiner has expressed that the entire side has been left “surprised” by how quickly Nico Hulkenberg has “integrated into the team.”
Hulkenberg has returned to the Formula 1 grid on a full-time basis for the first time since 2019 this year, replacing Mick Schumacher at Haas over the winter.
The German has immediately been on the pace, out-qualifying team-mate Kevin Magnussen at nine of the 12 race weekends, advancing to Q3 on six occasions.
But amid Haas’ continuous struggles to get on top of its tyre degradation problem, Hulkenberg has only converted that into one points-scoring position on a Sunday.
Nevertheless, Hulkenberg has still managed to score seven more points than Magnussen, leaving Steiner to assert the American outfit has been stunned by the swiftness in which its new recruit has adapted.
“First of all, we were surprised with how quick he was on the ball and how quick he was integrated into the team,” Steiner said via RacingNews365.
“It was quite amazing how he immediately understood. But again, he was doing this [F1] for a long time. But also how he goes about racing, he goes about the right way.
“He puts the right effort in, not trying to overdo it, but he knows exactly what he needs to do.
“With experience it’s not chocolate, it’s not sweet to make, it takes some time.”
Hulkenberg’s one-lap exploits left Steiner labelling the ex-Renault racer the best qualifier he has ever worked with.
The 35-year-old has again excelled in wet conditions since completing his F1 comeback, seizing a front-row berth in qualifying for the Canadian Grand Prix before a red flag infringement proceeded to drop him back three places on the grid.
Changeable conditions on Sprint Saturday in Austria also paved the way for Hulkenberg to add to his points from the Australian Grand Prix, converting a fourth-place starting spot to sixth at the Red Bull Ring.
Haas currently languishes eighth in the Constructors’ Championship, level on points with Williams in seventh and two points clear of Alfa Romeo one position behind.
Steiner has confirmed that the Kannapolis-based squad will continue to bring further upgrades to its VF-23 car in the races following the summer break as it bids to secure seventh in the standings.
F1 returns this weekend with the Dutch Grand Prix at the Zandvoort circuit ahead of a congested run of 10 rounds across the next 14 weeks to close out 2023.
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