Nico Hulkenberg delivered a strong performance in Singapore, driving his Haas to a ninth-place finish and signaling the team’s intent to snatch sixth place in the Constructors’ Championship from Red Bull’s junior team, AlphaTauri. Starting from an impressive fifth on the grid, Hulkenberg was poised to capitalize on the tight battle in the lower midfield.
Hulkenberg launched into an aggressive first lap, overtaking McLaren’s Oscar Piastri before briefly conceding the position. He held his ground in sixth place until his pit stop on Lap 29, after which the Ferraris and Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin moved ahead as they recovered from poor starts.
Reflecting on his race, Hulkenberg expressed satisfaction with the points finish, especially after the disappointment in Baku. However, he acknowledged that Haas needed to review their one-stop strategy, which added to the complexity of the race.
“Happy to get points, that’s what matters,” Hulkenberg stated. “It was a clean race but quite stressful, keeping the Red Bull at bay for the whole second stint. It was tough to bring it home with the tires, but we managed.”
The sweltering conditions in Singapore were a major challenge, pushing Hulkenberg to his limits during a grueling second stint as he fended off Red Bull’s Sergio Perez and navigated the dirty air from Alonso ahead.
“A very intense second stint,” he added. “I had to stay faultless and super clean. It was tough feeling the heat from Perez and being in Alonso’s dirty air. The braking zones are so small; overtaking is incredibly difficult here.”
Despite the pressure, Hulkenberg maintained his composure and highlighted the team’s growing confidence in their battle for sixth in the standings. Haas is now just three points adrift of AlphaTauri, and Hulkenberg believes they have the momentum to challenge.
“We firmly believe that we can challenge them,” said Hulkenberg. “We scored last weekend, and now with six races to go, it’s all to play for. They won’t make it easy for us, but we have good momentum.”
With further upgrades expected in Austin, Hulkenberg is optimistic about Haas’s prospects for the remainder of the season. He emphasized the importance of the upcoming triple-header, which he considers the most exciting part of the year.
“We’re competitive, and with good circuits coming up for our package, I look forward to scoring more points,” Hulkenberg concluded.
As Haas gears up for the final stretch of the season, Hulkenberg’s fighting spirit and strategic insight could prove pivotal in the team’s quest to upset the standings and secure a higher finish.
