Because the minutes ticked down within the first qualifying phase on the British Grand Prix, 19 of the 20 drivers wound their manner round historic Silverstone circuit in moist circumstances, counting on the inexperienced intermediate tires.
Nico Hülkenberg was that twentieth driver, who remained within the storage ready for the monitor to dry out, and the suitable second to hitch the battle.
Hülkenberg needed to wait by a purple flag, introduced out by Sergio Pérez. The Crimson Bull driver was one of many first to modify to the slicks, with simply over seven minutes remaining within the session, however shortly paid a steep worth. Pérez slid into the gravel and couldn’t get shifting once more, ending his session early.
In the end, Hülkenberg had only one shot at a flying lap and he made it stick, doing simply sufficient to get into Q2.
However when the mud settled and the checkered flag flew on the finish of Q3 Hülkenberg was up in sixth on the timing sheets, and he’ll begin on the third row in Sunday’s British Grand Prix.
That stands as not simply the most effective qualifying end result for Hülkenberg this season, however for the workforce as nicely.
Nevertheless, the strategy taken by Haas made for some nervy moments for each the driving force and the workforce.
“I managed to take the momentum from final race into this week, plus I believe the updates we delivered to the automotive yesterday actually had an impression and I felt a achieve with them straightaway,” mentioned Hülkenberg within the workforce’s post-qualifying report. “That’s excellent news and it’s not all the time the case, so an enormous nicely accomplished to the workforce. Quali was good; Q1 was a bit too shut for consolation with just one lap.
“With the purple flag, we received slightly out of sync and perhaps it was a bit sketchy, however in any other case it was a superb, clear session. I really feel good confidence within the automotive which suggests I can produce the laps, even when it’s only one.”
Workforce Principal Ayao Komatsu hailed an “wonderful” end result for the workforce, however outlined how Haas must evaluate their “difficult” strategy.
“It’s been a fairly eventful day with fairly difficult circumstances, however in FP3 I believe we made progress studying about automotive habits on the intermediates. In Q1 we determined to not run on the inters as a result of we anticipated it to be dry, in order that’s what we did,” described Komatsu. “It was very difficult, we have to evaluate what we did and the way we will do it higher as a result of we simply received by with Nico. Kevin didn’t get by Q1 as a result of he went off however with Nico, we didn’t give ourselves sufficient margin, in order that’s one thing we have to enhance.”
Komatsu outlined the way it may have been even higher for Hülkenberg.
“Shifting into dry circumstances with Nico, what a improbable end result with P6, and that might’ve been higher. He made a mistake on his flying lap in one of many corners so it’s actually pleasing with all of the exhausting work from the workforce getting this improve on and it paying off nicely,” added the Haas boss. “It’s a wonderful place to start out tomorrow, so we’ll see what we will do, however for now, I’m pleased for the workforce – wonderful work from everybody.”
Whereas Kevin Magnussen didn’t advance out of Q1 and can begin behind the sphere, Hülkenberg’s beginning place provides Haas an amazing probability to convey house strong factors on Sunday. The workforce enters the British Grand Prix sitting seventh within the Method 1 Constructors’ standings, 11 factors behind Visa Money App RB F1 Workforce.
However with each Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda beginning exterior the factors — and behind Hülkenberg — Haas is in place to chop into that lead Sunday.
Regardless of a “sketcky” Saturday.
