Hulkenberg pleased to ‘steal’ another point for Haas as Magnussen rues costly contact with Tsunoda.
Nico Hulkenberg expressed his satisfaction after taking advantage of a drama-filled Chinese Grand Prix to give Haas another points finish and boost the team’s position in the constructors’ standings.
23 April 2024
Formula One - Official Site

Hulkenberg converted ninth on the grid into 10th during Sunday’s race, which saw Kick Sauber’s Valtteri Bottas retire due to engine woes and both RBs fail to finish after Daniel Ricciardo got struck by Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll under the Safety Car and Yuki Tsunoda got spun around by the other Haas of Kevin Magnussen.

“It’s never a walk in the park,” the German said afterwards. “But I think it was well managed, well controlled from our side, so I’m very positive and happy about that, that we got the one point which was up for grabs.”

“It shows one of the top five cars [Stroll] had a problem and obviously that’s the spot we kind of stole because of it. Otherwise, it’s not really possible to race with them. It also just shows that we need to have a perfect Saturday in quali and Sunday to be able to be where we are.”

‘Nico Hulkenberg expressed his satisfaction’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...JnqFU3fOaSSsb2


208 starts but no win: Hulkenberg equals 30-year-old de Cesaris record
Posted on 22nd April 2024, 11:56
Written by Keith Collantine
RaceFans

Nico Hulkenberg has tied the record for starting the most grands prix without ever winning one. However unlike de Cesaris, Hulkenberg has never reached the podium either. He already holds the record for most grands prix without appearing on the rostrum.

A promising debut season with Williams culminated in a stunning pole position at the Brazilian Grand Prix. But by that time the cash-strapped team had already told Hulkenberg he would be replaced by Pastor Maldonado and his Venezuelan millions. After a year on the sidelines, Hulkenberg made an impressive return in 2012 with Force India (now Aston Martin) and could have won at Interlagos that year, where he led 30 laps before going out in a collision with Hamilton.

With his move to Renault in 2017 it seemed Hulkenberg finally had the chance to lead a manufacturer-basked operation to the front. But further podium chances eluded him, most painfully when he crashed out on home ground in 2019, and he was dropped at the end of the year. After a few ‘super-sub’ reappearances, Hulkenberg made a full-time return at Haas, where he has demonstrated his strong one-lap pace, but hasn’t yet had the equipment to challenge for the podium finish which is now well overdue, let alone a victory.

‘208 starts but no win’;

https://www.racefans.net/2024/04/22/...esaris-record/


Nico Hulkenberg ties unwanted F1 record following impressive drive in China
Nico Hulkenberg tied an unwanted F1 record at the Chinese Grand Prix.
22 Apr 2024
Connor McDonagh
Crash.Net

Nico Hulkenberg has moved level with Andrea de Cesaris for most races without an F1 victory following the Chinese Grand Prix. The German enjoyed another fine weekend in Shanghai, finishing tenth to give Haas their fifth point of the season.

It’s been an impressive start to the 2024 F1 season for Haas, particularly as ahead of the new campaign, new team principal Ayao Komatsu suggested that they would be right at the back given their lack of development over the winter.

Haas have scored five points in the opening five races, just two fewer than RB in the race for sixth in the F1 constructors’ championship. A big part of their strong form is down to the brilliance of Hulkenberg, who continues to deliver each weekend.

‘Nico Hulkenberg has moved level with Andrea de Cesaris’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/104730...ve-drive-china

TECHNICAL F1 Unlocked/TECH WEEKLY: Haas's significant Shanghai upgrade – and what it says about Komatsu's approach as team boss
23 April 2024
Technical Contributors
Mark Hughes and Giorgio Piola
Formula One - Official Site

Haas boss Ayao Komatsu said a couple of races ago that, following promising signs in the wind tunnel, he was bringing forward the team’s upgrade. That upgrade appeared last weekend in Shanghai and it was a significant one.
This more ambitious development policy is set to be a cornerstone of Komatsu’s approach in his first year as team principal.

‘Haas's significant Shanghai upgrade’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...gLCfbogL9th5PK


Haas F1 News: Komatsu Calls for Magnussen Penalty Explanation - 'More Tsunoda'
Published Apr 23, 2024
By Lydia Mee
Sports Contributing Writer
Newsweek

Haas F1 team principal Ayao Komatsu has challenged the stewards' decision to penalize Kevin Magnussen following a crash with Yuki Tsunoda during the Chinese Grand Prix last weekend. Komatsu contends that the penalty was unwarranted, suggesting that Tsunoda shares at least an equal part of the blame. Despite this, Komatsu makes it clear the penalty cannot be appealed, however, he wants an explanation from the Stewards.

Ayao Komatsu, the Haas F1 Team Principal, voiced strong objections to the stewards' ruling during a post-race interview, as quoted by Autosport. He argued that the incident was a typical racing clash and should not have resulted in a penalty. He explained: "I do not think that's justifiable. I think it's just a racing incident. He didn't run Tsunoda off the track. He dived inside of Turn 6, he hit the apex, Tsunoda was wide, he still left the room, Tsunoda came back progressively."

Komatsu added that the decision appeared heavily skewed against Magnussen, whom he believes was not solely responsible for the collision. Komatsu continued: "He doesn't go off the track, so maybe the definition 'came back' might be wrong. But it's not like Kevin is wholly to blame. For me, minimum 50/50.”

‘Komatsu contends that the penalty was unwarranted’;

https://www.newsweek.com/sports/haas...3165?piano_t=1


Nico Hulkenberg closes in on Audi F1 move for 2025: “Only the signature is missing”
Nico Hulkenberg is close to agreeing a move from Haas to Audi for the 2025 F1 season.
24 Apr 2024
Connor McDonagh
Crash.Net

Nico Hulkenberg is close to signing an agreement with Audi for the 2025 F1 season. According to Sport1, Hulkenberg has agreed to join Audi - the team is currently known as Sauber - for next year.

Sauber CEO Andreas Seidl wanted to replace Bottas with Hulkenberg for this season but Haas were unwilling to let the impressive German go. Hulkenberg will return to Hinwil having spent a year at the team back in 2013. The 36-year-old will reportedly be offered a three-year contract with Audi officially entering the sport in 2026.

Hulkenberg has enjoyed another impressive season with Haas so far, scoring points in three of the first five races in 2024. With Fernando Alonso committing his future to Aston Martin, the F1 driver market dominos are falling. Audi will have to wait for Sainz though as he waits to see what Red Bull and Mercedes decide.

“Only the signature is missing”;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/104735...nature-missing


Hulkenberg set to sign for new F1 team
Audi will join the Formula 1 grid in 2026, but is keen to have both its drivers in place at Stake for 2025, with Nico Hulkenberg set to make the switch, RacingNews365 understands.
25 April 9:24AM
Aaron Deckers
RacingNews365

In late 2023, RacingNews365 was informed that Audi was very keen on bringing Nico Hulkenberg to the team - and that a contract had been offered to the German for 2024 at the Stake team. Sources have now indicated to RacingNews365 that Hulkenberg is now set to sign for Audi, thus becoming a Stake driver in 2025 before the Ingolstadt concern arrives in '26.

Audi has been keen to secure Hulkenberg for the experience he can offer in helping to steer a team in the right direction, something several engineers from teams Hulkenberg has driven for have confirmed. Haas, the team Hulkenberg is set to leave, was keen to keep the popular German, with his feedback playing a major role in the development of the 2024 car to soothe the tyre management problems that plagued its 2023 machine.

From the first five races, Hulkenberg has three points finishes, compared to just one return in a grand prix throughout the 2023 season. The CEO of the Audi project Andreas Seidl has a clear mind as to who is his preferred driver line-up, with Carlos Sainz also hoping to be snared by the team. Both Sainz and Hulkenberg are drivers with factory experience behind them, with the two having been team-mates at Renault in 2018 before Sainz's move to Ferrari following his McLaren spell.

‘Hulkenberg set to sign’;

https://racingnews365.com/hulkenberg...or-new-f1-team