Nico Hulkenberg heads into his second race with Aston Martin in Jeddah, but F1's super-sub is bracing for the hardest race of his career on the demanding and fast street circuit.
Last week in Bahrain, Hulkenberg was called back into the fray by Team Silverstone after Sebastian Vettel had tested positive for Covid-19.
With the four-time world champion still isolating at home, Hulkenberg is keeping his countryman's seat warm again this weekend.
But to fast-track his preparations for Saudi Arabia, the 34-year-old returned to the UK to get himself acquainted with the Jeddah Corniche Circuit although the real track proved massively more challenging that its virtual representation.
"More preparation, more time, but this track is something else, it's nothing to compare with the tracks that I've raced," commented the Hulk.
"It's so high-speed, for a street circuit, it's pretty mind-blowing, very demanding, very challenging, therefore.
©AstonMartin
"It was difficult this weekend to find the good confidence, to find the rhythm. And that continued in quali. There was more in it, I had a couple of tenths in me. But unfortunately, I didn't manage to string it together.
"Obviously the seating position and everything is a little bit more known, it's not that new anymore. But coming here on this track, despite doing simulator running, it still feels pretty new and fresh."
Although a few hours in the simulator proved useful to learn Jeddah's lines and the layout, the track's physical challenges could not be replicated.
"It's nothing to compare, honestly," he admitted. "Because in a simulator, you don't get the speed sensation, you don't get the forces on your body. It's just not the same.
"Also in the simulator if you run offline, there's no dust, there's no low grip. So it's a very different sensation. And in reality, it's pretty intense.
"I mean, the race is going to be incredible. Probably the hardest race of my career is coming up, physically, but also just super demanding. So I want to get through it and help the team as much as I can."
©AstonMartin
Since last December following F1's first visit to the track, Jeddah has gained a reputation as a high-risk venue. And Mick Schumacher's massive crash in qualifying on Saturday only reinforced that perception.
Hulkenberg admits the fast and sinuous layout is "tricky" but the German stopped short of calling it "dangerous".
"It is tricky. Dangerous? I don't know. But definitely at high speeds things can happen, there is risk associated with racing, especially on a track like this," he said.
"I always feel then if drivers feel scared or frightened, we're not forced. If you don't feel safe, you have the choice to lift off, and to not go where you feel unsafe. So it's also in the hands of a driver.
"Baku is obviously also high speed, but it's straight line more than anything, the cornering speeds are nowhere near what we see here. So it's definitely very unique and special."
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