Nico Hulkenberg believes Haas’ current momentum should allow the US outfit to challenge and beat Visa Cash App RB for sixth-place in F1’s Constructors’ standings.
Only three points separate the two teams thanks to Haas scoring three consecutive top-ten finishes while RB has failed to put a singe point on the board since Spa, just before F1’s summer break.
In Singapore last weekend, Hulkenberg – who qualified a remarkable sixth – went on to finish ninth. However, the German driver was forced to work overtime in the second half of the race at Marina Bay to fend off Sergio Perez’s Red Bull.
But after just missing out on a point in Baku a week earlier, a run to P9 felt like a “redemption” for Hulkenberg.
“Happy to get points, that’s what matters, obviously,” said Hulkenberg. “From that point of view, good.
“A few things I think to look into and review in terms of strategy. But otherwise a clean race, obviously not very eventful, but quite stressful, keeping the Red Bull at bay for the whole second stint.
“It was tough to bring it home with the tyres and everything, but yeah, we managed. Happy, and a bit of redemption from last week.”
The future Audi-Sauber driver highlighted the importance of keeping it clean around Singapore’s challenging 4.94km layout while dealing with his mid-field rivals.
“A very intense second stint,” he added. “I had to stay faultless and super clean and clinical, like everyone. But yeah, it was tough feeling heat from him [Perez] and catching Fernando [Alonso], then being in his dirty air.
“It’s tough to overtake obviously with these cars, when you get close now, and the braking zones are so small we brake so late, very difficult to overtake here. But yeah, difficult second stint under a lot of pressure from him [Perez]. Not that we were racing, but I just had to stay clean.
“It wasn’t easy, it was very challenging and tough. So it makes it a bit sweeter that we managed to succeed.”
Reflecting on Haas’ position in the championship, Hulkenberg noted his team’s united front in its fight to seize sixth from RB.
“I think everyone in the team firmly believes that we can challenge and fight them,” he said. “We scored a point last weekend [with Bearman]. We should have scored more, and now six races to go, it’s all to play for.
“Obviously, they’re not going to hand it to us. They’ll try to fight back, but it’s just a race till the end. But I think we have good momentum. Now there’s a bit of a break, but the next triple header, I really look forward to probably my favourite time of the season.
“We’re competitive in the races, and in Austin, we actually get further upgrades. So that’s encouraging, but I think some good circuits coming for us and our package, and I look forward to hopefully a couple more points.”
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