Hulkenberg 'very, very pleased' with clean Jeddah race

Aston Martin's Nico Hulkenberg says he was "very pleased" with what may have been last weekend in Saudi Arabia his ultimate Grand Prix.

Hulkenberg, who replaced a Covid-stricken Sebastian Vettel in the first two races of the 2022 season, concluded his evening in Jeddah outside of the top ten in twelfth position.

Unfortunately, the German's long first stint strategy on the hard compound tyre was negated by the timing of the lap 16 Safety Car, an event that would set him back later in the race.

"It was OK, but unfortunately that Safety Car was exactly at the wrong time for my strategy and my race, so we really lost out there," said Hulkenberg.

"It was unfortunate, but you cannot control these things."

Ahead of his second race with Aston Martin, Hulkenberg feared that he was heading into "the hardest race of my career" due to his lack of physical preparation, having been called up to replace Vettel in Bahrain at the eleventh hour.

But overall, F1's super-sub was very satisfied with his performance in Jeddah, one that was void of any mistakes.

"Personally, I am very, very pleased – I drove a clean race, faultless – but that’s all I could ask for given I am an old rusty guy. So, very happy and proud of myself."

• Read also: F1i's Driver Ratings for the 2022 Saudi Arabia GP

Vettel is scheduled to return to the fray next week in Australia as the four-time world champion is expected to finally return a negative Covid test.

Hulkenberg may therefore have enjoyed in Jeddah his last official outing in an F1 car, although the 34-year-old will remain in the wings at Aston Martin for the remainder of the season, just in case.

"Well, that last 10 days were very unexpected, very eventful, busy, very intense," commented the Hulk. "But I enjoyed them in hindsight.

"I think in a few years' time I will look back on this with good memories and with happy memories."

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