Nico Hulkenberg

PdR is a very good driver IMO ... to beat him so convincingly, as NH did this weekend speaks very loudly IMO

Edited by LiJu914, 28 October 2012 - 19:51.

I think Hamilton is the only active driver, who has a more impressive Pre-F1-CV than him.

I personally rate Hulk's pre-F1 CV no worse than Hamilton's. But I didn't analyse their personal achievements much, so it may be a view that is not considered well enough.

Let's be honest here - I can't believe Ferrari re-signed Massa instead of hiring Hulk...

Could Hulk be a dark horse to replace Mark Webber in 2014? Deserves a top seat somewhere. Perhaps the brand wouldn't want two Germans though.

Edited by sopa, 28 October 2012 - 21:09.

PdR is a very good driver IMO ... to beat him so convincingly, as NH did this weekend speaks very loudly IMO

Paul di Resta is an average driver.

Paul di Resta is an average driver.

Edited by Alarcon, 28 October 2012 - 21:35.

Agreed, but Hulkenberg is still doing a great job, and is maximising the car at the moment, it's just a shame he had those two mechanical problems at Monza and Singapore otherwise I think he would be heavily beating Di resta.

It's been genuinely great seeing him improve and grow over the season, and I still can't believe McLaren signed Perez over him, regardless of the investment opportunities for the latter. IMO He is the only new driver at the moment that seems genuinely capable of challenging the triumvirate of Hamilton, Alonso and Vettel in the near future once given the equipment, but for the moment I hope that can have another great season at Sauber in 2013.

Scarily becoming quite a big fan, it seems I have a thing about Hs.

I'll give Nico credit. Great drive today.You gotta wonder though if he moves to Sauber, is that really a step up?
Midfield teams are just so inconsistant. I guess that's why they're doomed to be midfielders.

Edited by sofarapartguy, 29 October 2012 - 07:46.

Said it earlier and gonna say it again - I can't believe Mclaren signed Perez over Hulk... The biggest disappointment of the season so far.

Said it earlier and gonna say it again - I can't believe Mclaren signed Perez over Hulk... The biggest disappointment of the season so far.

It's surprising how it has gone from "he is a mediocre", "Sauber's drivers are much better than him" to "Hulk is a real deal" and "I can't believe Mclaren signed Perez over Hulk" in just 2 or 3 races.

It's surprising how it has gone from "he is a mediocre", "Sauber's drivers are much better than him" to "Hulk is a real deal" and "I can't believe Mclaren signed Perez over Hulk" in just 2 or 3 races.

I always knew he was going to put it together to a series of a great performances. It doesn't say much about your F1 potential if you have one good season in junior series, but if you have such a great record like Hulk, you can't be just a mediocre driver.

The only thing that worries me a bit is that he is going to change the team again. Although I think Sauber should be a step forward over Force India, if not in terms of car's competitiveness, then at least in terms of stability, Hulk is yet to be a racing driver for one team by 2 years in row and this makes it a harder task if he wants to shine. He always needs to adapt and can't build a team around himself and can't get a car that is pretty much designed for his driving style etc.

At least he has reached the status that he can get a midfield seat without bringing sponsorship and without one-year break. Good for him. I wonder how could he do this year if he was a racing driver last year. Maybe he could outshine di Resta from the beginning of the season and get a McLaren seat instead of Perez. We will never know.

I think Hulk did an amazing job, qualified fourth in wet conditions and defended well to keep Button and especially Perez behind him for a long time, in a car that didn't have the pace while finishing in front of Di Resta again.

I would have given him a 10

Not for some of us:

This is a guy who already had fans before he came to F1 ... its just that aside from the pole a couple of years ago there has not been much to shout about before the mid point of this season.... so its no surprise is many of us are just now coming (back?) out of the woodwork as NH fans but its not that we are new fans.

Said it earlier and gonna say it again - I can't believe Mclaren signed Perez over Hulk... The biggest disappointment of the season so far.

Maybe the German media is right. Ron Dennis will never hire a German driver. McLaren never have, not likely to. The only significant team not to.
It's more than coincident when they pass up on Schumacher (both), Frentzen, Heidfeld, Vettel and others, given Mercedes pressure over the years.
If Hulkenberg was expecting a change of heart, he's got a long wait.

Edited by sofarapartguy, 29 October 2012 - 14:51.

I think Hamilton is the only active driver, who has a more impressive Pre-F1-CV than him.

Edited by Lord_Shaitan, 29 October 2012 - 16:59.

Grosjean's Pre-F1-CV is "not bad" either ;) .
http://www.driverdb....rosjean/career/

Edited by LiJu914, 29 October 2012 - 17:04.

Same here, which means you've got to alteast consider some of the rumours surrounding 2014.
Massa has been very good lately, but with two and a half bad seasons, you can't be sure he'll stay at his current level all through next season.

Hülkenberg is doing a great job at the moment and I think he's becoming a very interesting driver.

Paul di Resta is an average driver.

This is a guy who already had fans before he came to F1 ... its just that aside from the pole a couple of years ago there has not been much to shout about before the mid point of this season.... so its no surprise is many of us are just now coming (back?) out of the woodwork as NH fans but its not that we are new fans.

Grosjean's Pre-F1-CV is "not bad" either ;) .
http://www.driverdb....rosjean/career/

Grosjean's Pre-F1-CV is "not bad" either ;) .
http://www.driverdb....rosjean/career/

Edited by Anderis, 18 November 2012 - 12:34.

Wasn't there a case that Macca really went for Michael but failed?

And Nick was almost their driver if not for Mika's advice to pick up Kimi.

Ron is tough, but I think he is much more that this.

ba...MS has labeled this untrue.

a...MS has labeled this untrue.
b...MH's famous quote "If you want to win, get a Finn" thus Kimi and thus Kovi at Mac.
Now, if Hulkenberg was Finnish...;)

Edited by engel, 30 October 2012 - 15:57.

if you search the depths of internet archives there's actual footage of Dennis approaching Michael during a Hugo Boss fashion show and suggesting they should meet and talk about Michael joining McLaren

Edit: It wasn't that hard to find after all ->

Maybe the German media is right. Ron Dennis will never hire a German driver. McLaren never have, not likely to. The only significant team not to.
It's more than coincident when they pass up on Schumacher (both), Frentzen, Heidfeld, Vettel and others, given Mercedes pressure over the years.
If Hulkenberg was expecting a change of heart, he's got a long wait.

Jochen Mass?

Jochen Mass drove full seasons from 1975 untill 1977 for McLaren (and 2 races in '74). At that time McLaren was owned by Teddy Mayer. Ron Dennis only took over in 1981 and under Dennis McLaren never hired a German driver for a race seat.

Jochen Mass drove full seasons from 1975 untill 1977 for McLaren (and 2 races in '74). At that time McLaren was owned by Teddy Mayer. Ron Dennis only took over in 1981 and under Dennis McLaren never hired a German driver for a race seat.

More and more doubts about should have Hulk gone to Sauber..

Edited by Alarcon, 18 November 2012 - 12:26.

...and should have McLaren choose Perez instead of Hulkenberg. Maybe the second biggest mistake from McLaren taking Perez these season and not him.

He is beating a great driver as Di Resta this season (although are very equal) and still proving he will be a WDC on a top car.