Hulk on Renault: 'Keep it simple and focus on the important things'

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Nico Hulkenberg believes Renault should follow Force India's route, and keep things simple while making the most of its resources.

There's no doubt about how efficient and cost-effective Force India has been in the last few years, and Hulkenberg says Renault can take a few pointers from his former team.

"Some big teams have so many resources and they get lost sometimes in the complexity of the sport and of engineering," the German told Racer's Chris Medland.

"At Force India I think we were good at keeping it simple, focusing on the important stuff and that way we ran pretty well and successfully."

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Despite Force India's impressive performance , Hulkenberg departed Vijay Mallya's outfit, convinced his long term interests would be better served by Renault and the French manufacturer's ambitions.

It hasn't been an easy return to Grand Prix racing however for the works team following its takeover of Lotus at the end of 2015. But Hulkenberg is a believer in the canary-yellow squad.

"There's a lot of work in front of us but I find that exciting. I know what they're doing and what the shorter-term and longer-term plan is. It sounds encouraging to me."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.