F1 | Renault, Hulkenberg: “Reducing the gap with the teams ahead of us: this is the challenge”

Between the recent past and the imminent future, Nico Hulkenberg e Carlos Sainz introduced the Bahrain Grand Prix, the second round of the 2018 Formula 1 World Championship. These are the words released by the two drivers on the official website of the Renault.

Hulkenberg: “In Melbourne it was a straight and successful race for us. It was a great weekend and I was happy with our good race pace. I felt good, it was a solid result. Overtaking was very difficult as the cars are aerodynamically sensitive and the speeds are so high. 7th place was probably a fair result for us. We have to keep working and make sure we beat the teams around us. We have sent a positive message from Enstone and Viry, but we need to close the gap to the teams ahead of us - that is the challenge. The Bahrain International Circuit is a large facility in the middle of the desert. The track itself is quite technical with the natural elements adding some extra challenge, particularly the wind. I really like Bahrain, the warmth is guaranteed and the atmosphere is always pleasant”.

Sainz: “Having both cars in the points was a very positive start for the team and we can be proud of that weekend. As the sessions went by I got more comfortable with the car and I'm sure there are still many setups to explore. Scoring points in the first GP of the year is always important: I can't wait to get back in the car in Bahrain. In Sakhir there could be some difficulties with the braking system: some braking points change slightly over the weekend due to session times. We will take the references from FP2, which are very important given that it is the only session representative of the race conditions. It's always nice to race at night and under the lights: this makes this race one of the most unique on the calendar.".

Federico Martino