Formel 1, Hülkenberg’s Frustration after Canada Qualifying: Everything Went Wrong!
In a disappointing turn of events, Nico Hülkenberg was eliminated in Q1 during the Formel-1 Qualifying in Canada, leaving him with a starting position of 18th place for the upcoming race. The issues that led to his early exit were rooted in the struggles he faced during the training sessions, where he failed to find his footing with the VF-24 car. The culprit was identified as the rear wing, which was swapped out before the qualifying session – for the second time that day.
„We switched to a rear wing of the same specification and also changed the underbody. But once again, the measured load was not as it should be,“ expressed Hülkenberg. The first switch took place before FP3, with further adjustments following suit. „Therefore, we changed the rear wing directly before qualifying on Saturday to a specification with more downforce.“
Unfortunately, the rear wing swap didn’t go smoothly, causing a delay in Hülkenberg’s exit onto the track. This setback threw off the team’s run plan, leading to a rushed and hectic atmosphere. This had implications on tire preparation, with Hülkenberg only managing a slow lap before his final run. The cascade of issues continued to mount as he encountered traffic during his crucial fast lap, further impeding his performance.
Reflecting on his challenging weekend, Hülkenberg expressed his disappointment, acknowledging that things did not go according to plan. Despite the setbacks, Haas Team Principal Ayao Komatsu defended the driver, attributing the struggles to last-minute changes that hindered Hülkenberg from showcasing his full potential. Looking ahead to the race on Sunday, Hülkenberg remains cautiously pessimistic about his chances, emphasizing the need for luck and favorable circumstances to make up for his lacking vehicle pace.
On the other hand, Hülkenberg’s teammate Kevin Magnussen had a slightly better qualifying session, making it to Q2 but falling short of a higher position. A miscalculation regarding the anticipated rain led to Haas opting for used tires, ultimately impacting Magnussen’s performance. Despite the uncertainty surrounding the weather conditions, Magnussen remains optimistic about their long-run pace, expressing confidence in their ability to perform well regardless of the circumstances.
As the Haas F1 Team navigates the challenges of the Canada Grand Prix in Montreal, both Hülkenberg and Magnussen face varying levels of optimism and uncertainty as they gear up for the ninth race of the 2024 Formula 1 season.