Nico Hulkenberg is proud of Haas’ early progress within the younger 2024 season, however cautions in opposition to complacency, warning that it may take little or no to disrupt the group’s fortunes.
Haas entered the season with tempered expectations set by new group principal Ayao Komatsu who projected a troublesome begin for the US outfit as a result of late improvement of its VF-24.
A spot among the many top-ten in qualifying in Bahrain for Hulkenberg was an early constructive signal that’s Haas had a wholesome bundle on its fingers.
In Jeddah, a strong drive by the German coupled with some useful and opportunistic teammate work by Kevin Magnussen yielded a P10 end for the Hulk.
Lastly, final weekend in Melbourne, extra sensible collaboration between Hulkenberg and Magnussen delivered a double factors end for the Haas.
However past the group’s productive outcomes, Hulkenberg highlights how consistency instilled on this yr’s design has translated into higher tyre administration on race day, the group’s Achilles heal up to now two seasons.
“I feel we’ve made superb progress in a little or no period of time, truly, in December, the place the aero guys discovered numerous efficiency and in some way straightened out the aero map issues we had final yr,” commented Hulkenberg final weekend in Australia, quoted by MotorsportWeek.
“And that simply means far more consistency on Sunday and due to this fact higher tyre life and traits.”
Regardless of the progress, Hulkenberg says Haas should not get carried away as ongoing challenges stay. And it’s focus needs to be on maximizing each session and exploiting each alternative that comes its manner.
“I feel you’ve received to watch out with all these conclusions,” he cautioned.
“Clearly, in Jeddah, we helped our case, you already know, with an important group effort. So we’re all tremendous shut with AlphaTauri [RB] there – I haven’t seen a Sauber on this race – however with Sauber, with Williams, with Alpine even.
“So, you already know, it takes little or no, and it may very well be an enormous swing round within the different manner.
“So it’s only a matter of, you already know, all the time maximizing your weekend, each session. And to date, I feel we’ve been good with that.
“Additionally, considerably fortunate on my aspect, which is all the time clearly good. However finally, the others may also face some luck.
“So it’s necessary that we develop the automobile and, you already know, simply get stronger on all the pieces.”
Hulkenberg and Magnussen at the moment are of their second season collectively at Haas.
The 2 males have had their variations up to now when the raced for opposing groups, however at Haas they’ve developed a productive working relationship, on and off the observe, and their collaboration is paying dividends.
“We’re working as a group, as a pair,” confirmed Hulkenberg. “I feel we additionally need very related issues from the automobile, you already know, pulling in a single course, which is all the time superb for a group, to allow them to actually go in a technique.
“And yeah, on and off observe, you already know, we get on, and it’s good.”
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