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Nico Hulkenberg would be a race winner 'straight away' if he were to get a drive in a top team, says his former Renault teammate Carlos Sainz.
Hulkenberg joined Renault at the start of 2017, in order to guide the team back to the front of the grid as they start their long-term project since becoming a works outfit again.
Even though the German driver won the 'Class B', or 'Formula 1.5' title last year, meaning that he finished in seventh position behind the three top teams, he also holds the record for the most number of races (156) without a podium.
“The year that I came to Renault, Nico was having already a very strong year", said Sainz. “I saw him performing at the highest level I’ve seen I think perform in the midfield for years.
“For me he’s one of those guys that you give him a Mercedes, Ferrari or Red Bull he’d win races straight away. But unfortunately you guys are not able to see it, not able to calculate it, as Formula 1 works like that.
“Nico is one of those guys that I’ve learned a lot from and I’m going to go to McLaren with that experience, having shared a team with one of the most talented drivers in the grid right now.”
In order to end his podium drought, he will need to hope that Renault can close the gap to the top three teams, and Sainz feels he has left the team in a good position to do this.
“I hope so because then it means they are also improving the engine and the engine goes to McLaren and the McLaren also starts working,” Sainz joked. “I see a lot of good guys here, I’ve met people like [chassis technical director] Nick Chester that are top guys, and people really willing to make it back to winning ways.
“I wish them the best. I know it’s a hard process. I don’t know how much time they want to cut it back, but it’s between one-and-a-half and two seconds in qualifying every time.”
Grand Prix of Belgium
C. Sainz jr
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Replies (4)
Login to replycalle.itw
Posts: 8,527
I believe him. But again, where would that place Perez?
Kean
Posts: 692
Just in front
boudy
Posts: 1,168
I like Hulkenberg however there is no proof that he's able to win a race in the right car. Is this an way of inflating his own skills (Sainz) since he got beaten by Nico? Not being able to get to an podium in all those races proves something since his team mate (Perez) did so.
They are about the same standard in my opinion with Hulkenberg having the edge since he has an more consistent driving style but not much in it.
mcbhargav
Posts: 1,332
If the car is fast, most drivers would take advantage of it. Only top shelf talent would bring in surprising results at least once in a while. Sure, Perez is smaller, and lighter than Hulk, But I wouldn't hold that against him.