Nico Hulkenberg, despite an impressive qualifying performance, has cautioned the Haas Formula 1 team about their vulnerability in races, which he believes could pose a challenge for them in the Canadian Grand Prix.
Hulkenberg showcased his skill in wet conditions by posting the second-fastest time during qualifying, positioning himself for a front-row start alongside pole-sitter Max Verstappen. However, his qualifying success was dampened when he was summoned to meet with the stewards due to a red flag infringement caused by Oscar Piastri’s crash in Q3.
Upon investigation, it was revealed that Hulkenberg had exceeded the delta time he was expected to follow, but this was primarily due to the timing of the red flag deployment, which resulted in him being 1.5 seconds above the set time. While he adhered to the time limit for the remainder of his in-lap, the stewards still needed to impose a penalty, although they opted for a milder sanction considering the mitigating circumstances.
Securing fifth place on the grid represents Hulkenberg’s best starting position of the season. However, he has expressed concerns to the team regarding their longstanding race pace issues, particularly with strong contenders such as Ferrari and Sergio Perez’s Red Bull positioned behind them.
Hulkenberg’s warning serves as a reminder to the Haas team that their performance in qualifying does not guarantee success in the race. The German driver’s experience and insights shed light on the challenges they may face during the Canadian Grand Prix and emphasize the importance of addressing their race pace weaknesses to achieve a favorable outcome.
