4
Cyril Abiteboul says Nico Hulkenberg got a wake-up call last year. The German driver began the year as Jolyon Palmer's teammate, but the Briton was replaced mid-season by Carlos Sainz.
"One thing I recall was when we put Carlos in the car," Renault team boss Abiteboul told Auto Hebdo. "For the first time I heard Nico say 'What fuel is in the other car?' 'What tyres does he have?' 'What's his power mode?' For the first time, he cared about the other car," said the Frenchman.
Still referring to Hulkenberg, he continued: "It did not wake him up, because he's a competitor who never falls asleep, but it did worry him. And I think that's what drives him to excel." (GMM)
Grand Prix of BelgiumLocal time
Grand Prix of BelgiumLocal time
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
M. Verstappen
C. Sainz jr
C. Leclerc
Bahrain
United Arab Emirates
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
Australia
Albert Park
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
Monaco
Monte Carlo
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
Austria
Red Bull Ring
United Kingdom
Silverstone
Hungary
Hungaroring
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
Italy
Monza
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
Brazil
Interlagos
United States of America
Las Vegas Street Circuit
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
40,164 comments on Ferrari
4 members have this team as their favourite
Tweets about Carlos Sainz jr
236,923 comments on Renault 27 members have this team as their favourite Tweets about Renault
Replies (4)
Login to replyrenaultFanF1
Posts: 80
It's extremely important to have a good competitive teammate, without that the driver grows complacent, thinking "I'm doing the best job and there's no more to be done". Hulk is a great driver, but lack of competition from the other side of the garage is not good for anyone
Kean
Posts: 692
I really hope Sainz out-qualifies and out-races him. Hulk is a great driver, but the way he's conducted himself in interviews and some of the things he's said just makes me dislike him. So far I haven't noticed anything of that sort from Sainz.
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
Renault has an exciting driver pairing, I expect to see them racing closely like Force India last year. Very much looking forward to those fights in track.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
This is one of the teams I have the highest expectations on. A works team in their third year back with two good drivers on board.