Q&A: Nico Hulkenberg.

Formula One's newest recruit, Nico Hulkenberg will make his race debut for Williams alongside fellow Grove newcomer Rubens Barrichello when the 2010 season kicks off in Bahrain, and is naturally excited at the opportunity after a rapid rise through the ranks.

Q:
How are you feeling about your new appointment?

Nico Hulkenberg:
I'm pretty excited to be racing for William🐠s. They're real racers. I've been with the team as a test driver for two years now so I know everyone well. I've also been working in the factory itself this year with stints in composites, the wind tunnel and sub-assembly. I like the people and the atmosphere within the factory is really good. I'm now in a race seat and I'm really looking forward to next year.

Q:
What are your objectives for next season?

NH:
I just wa🍰nt to deliver consistently and do a go🌟od job for the team. I'd like to have some good races and score point.

Q:
What expectations are there from the team?

NH:
🧔Of course they are expecting something otherwise they wouldn't have put me in the car, but I think their expectations are realistic.

Q:
What steps will you take to ensure you hit the gꦛround running in F1?

NH:
I can't ensure anything; all I can do is work hard over the winter. I'll take all of the tests that I get and I will use the simulator at Grove as much as I can. I'll prepare well w🧸ith my engineers and then hit the track and go racing and see where we are in Bahrain.

Q:
When will you get your first run in the car?

NH:
I will test the 2010 FW32 when testing starts in February, bu🍸t I will be doing two of the young driver t🉐ests in December at Jerez.

Q:
Rubens Barrichello will be your team-mate for 2010, your👍 thoughts?

NH:
It's completely positive from my perspective. As a rookie in F1, you couldn't ask for a better person to ওbe your te♑am-mate. It's a good combination.

Q:
Do you think you can g😼et the measure of Rubens next year?

NH:
It's difficult to judge at this stage. As there is ဣa limited amount of testing before the season starts, it will be difficult to get much track time in to prepare, but I hope to be on his pace from the beginning. From there, I hope I 🐷will be able to match his speed and results and maybe even beat him at some point.

Q:
Is he the kind of team-mate you would prefer?

NH:
I don't really mind. I just want the best team-ma𒈔te I can get. Someone who is quick, experienced and a good driver, and that's what I see in him.

Q:
Will you go to him for advice?

NH:
I would b💎e stupid not to! I think I can learn a lot from him and his experience, particularly by seeing how he works over a race weekend.

Q:
It's been f🍒ive years since Williams' last victory in F1. From what you know so far of the new car, do you think the team can turn their fortunes around?

NH:
I certainly hope so. I'm in the factory a lot so I see how hard the guys work, but you never really 🔯know how quickly and effectively the other teams' development programmes are going෴ until you get to the track. It's only then that we will be able to tell.

Q:
What are your thoughts on the team runn🅷ing a Cosworthꦇ engine?

NH:
I think it's looking positive, but it's the same as the development of the car; you h꧑ave to wait to judge until you get out onto the circuit with the🧸 others.

Q:
How do you feel you've grown as a driver following🌼 your year in GP2?

NH:
I think GP2 is a tough series. In your first year, you have to compete against drivers who might have been in the championship for two or three seasons. They already have the experience of pit-stops and the circuits. That is difficult to compete against and we definitely found the opening races hard work. After a few races, though, we quickly settled into a good rhythm and started to work well together as a teaཧm which helped. That was all a good learnin൩g process for me.

Q:
Do you think there is more pressure on you because Willi Weber is your man💯ager because he managed Michael Schumacher in F1?

NH:
No, not at all. There's no pressure from Willi. I have a great relationship with him and he's always supported me, both on and off the track. We𓂃 work very well togethꦅer and I hope it stays that way.

Q:
How do you feel about racing again𒆙st the generation of young German drivers?

NH:
S♏ix Germans is a lot, but there are quite a few Brazilians now as well. For me, though, at the end of the day, it doesn't matter where someone is from whꦇen I'm racing against them.

Q:
Does the success of Brawn as an in♋dependent team give you hope that Williams will be able to take on the might of McLaren and Ferrari?

NH:
The hope is always there. Independent of what Brawn does, however, I know that Willia♋ms can be successful.

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