Ex-Formula 1 driver Timo Glock believes fellow German Nico Hulkenberg will be catching the eye of “other teams”, with the Haas driver having performed incredibly since returning to Formula 1.
Hulkenberg was signed by Haas to replace Mick Schumacher this season, with the 35-year-old having not completed a full campaign since racing for Renault in 2019.
Haas team principal Guenther Steiner certainly took a risk by bringing the experienced German back to the sport; however, it’s worked perfectly so far for the Americans.
In the opening three rounds, Hulkenberg has already made Q3 twice and scored his first points of the season last weekend in Australia, whilst team-mate Kevin Magnussen crashed out.
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Magnussen has certainly been the weaker of the two Haas drivers so far this season, with his crash in the closing laps of Sunday’s race having been bizarre.
The Dane simply appeared to run too wide, before heavily hitting the wall on the outside of Turn Two.
Ex-F1 driver Ralf Schumacher believes Magnussen should’ve apologised to the team after crashing out, with it being something the German would’ve “done”.
“If I’d done that, I would have apologised to my team,” Schumacher told Sky Deutschland.
For Hulkenberg, though, there is absolutely no need to apologise, with the German having done exceptionally well so far this season.
“I feel good,” Hulkenberg said after finishing seventh in Melbourne
“As we say in Germany, I’m at peace with myself. I’m having fun.”
Hulkenberg certainly does look like a driver who’s enjoying driving, with him currently being the standout driver at Haas.
Magnussen, on the other hand, appears to be slightly under pressure, given that Hulkenberg has done so well.
Glock believes the Danish driver will be “asking himself one or two questions” following the opening three rounds of the 2023 F1 season, with him being in Hulkenberg’s shadow as it stands.
“Nico made a very clear statement in the first three races,” Glock said. “He’s put himself in a position where other teams take notice of him again.
“He has his teammate clearly under control at the moment. Kevin Magnussen will be asking himself one or two questions for sure.”
The momentum is certainly with Hulkenberg as it stands; however, there is a chance his progress could be halted due to the huge break before the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
With the Chinese Grand Prix having been cancelled, the next race isn’t until the last weekend in April, something Hulkenberg isn’t particularly pleased about.
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“It’s not ideal,” Hulkenberg told Bild newspaper
“Now we have rhythm, we have momentum – and the plug is pulled. It’s an early summer break.
“I’d rather not have it, but I can’t do anything about it either.”