In 2024, Nico Hulkenberg was the strong midfield grafter whose common points-scoring for Haas helped transfer the crew up three locations within the constructors’ championship in comparison with the yr earlier than. His reward was a call-up from Audi to affix what will likely be their works crew subsequent yr.
Haas started the yr within the decrease half of the midfield however the crew made incursions into the factors by strategically sacrificing Kevin Magnussen at instances, permitting Hulkenberg to capitalise. This took place as Hulkenberg sometimes out-qualified his crew mate, a sample which continued all through the season.
As a rule the VF-24 wasn’t fairly fast sufficient to attain factors on benefit. Hulkenberg demonstrated that time with a string of Eleventh-place finishes in Miami, Imola, Canada and Spain.
Nonetheless as soon as Haas started to make progress with their automobile, with maybe essentially the most profitable upgrades they’ve ever launched, Hulkenberg capitalised. He brilliantly re-passed Sergio Perez to say sixth place in Austria, then repeated the end in Britain regardless of dropping locations at first – his getaways have been a recurring weak spot.
Nico Hulkenberg
| Finest | Worst | |
|---|---|---|
| GP begin | 6 (x2) | 19 |
| GP end | 6 (x2) | 18 |
| Factors | 41 | |
Haas introduced one other bundle of upgrades for his or her automobile late within the season and Hulkenberg once more responded with a string of factors finishes. He beat Perez once more for ninth in Singapore, then took eighth in Austin and ninth in Mexico, although he completed behind Magnussen for as soon as on the latter.
There have been a number of notable slip-ups on the way in which, nevertheless. He tangled with Lance Stroll on the primary lap in Bahrain, had a foolish collision with Yuki Tsunoda in Monza and was poor in Qatar. And whereas he normally had the beating of Magnussen, Hulkenberg was crushed by Oliver Bearman on his two appearances for the crew, after clipping a wall in Baku and spun out in Brazil.
These incidents apart, Hulkenberg delivered the form of season which underlined why many rated him so extremely when he arrived in F1. It has earned him what might be a rewarding late profession alternative.
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