Ricciardo has to respect my opinion - Hulkenberg

Nico Hulkenberg says Daniel Ricciardo has to respect his opinion regarding the Halo cockpit protection concept.

Ferrari tested the cockpit protection during the final two days of pre-season testing in Barcelona at the start of this month, with the concept receiving a mixed reaction from drivers. When asked for his opinion following the Halo’s first running, Hulkenberg said he was not in favour of the device being introduced, comments which drew criticism from Ricciardo at the time.

Asked about Ricciardo’s reaction to his comments, Hulkenberg replied: “I read it and it made me smile.

“He has his opinion and I have mine, he has to respect mine and at the end of the day it won’t come down to either of us. My opinion hasn’t changed from back then and we will see where it ends up.”

With Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton also having dividing opinions on the concept, Hulkenberg feels it is natural a number of drivers have vastly opposing views.

“No, I am not surprised. Different people, different opinions. I think it is quite normal.”

Another recent development Hulkenberg would not be drawn on surrounded the new qualifying regulations.

“I think it came as such a surprise. Three weeks before the start of the season there was nothing and then ‘boom’, this is it. It came out of nowhere really. Now there is no point if we like it or not, it is going to happen, we have to understand it and get on with it.”