Hulkenberg needs to get used to F1 car: 'Started from plain zero'

After the surprising return of Kevin Magnussen at Haas, there is another old friend on the grid this weekend in Bahrain. Nico Hulkenberg takes over the seat of Sebastian Vettel at Aston Martin. The German is looking forward to getting back into a Formula 1 car.

On Thursday the news came that Vettel has been infected with the coronavirus and therefore has to miss the first race of the season. It's not a great start for the four-time world champion, but Hulkenberg will get another chance to take a seat in an F1 car.

In fact, it's not the first time we've seen the former F1 driver back during a season as a replacement. In 2020, Hulkenberg filled in three times for drivers infected with the corona virus, and his results were certainly not bad. Aston Martin will therefore be happy to have a driver like Hulkenberg in the seat.

Hulkenberg has to get used to new cars

On the Twitter account of Aston Martin, Hulkenberg reacts to his first day with the team. "I think it's been okay. I've settled in somewhat, obviously I started from plain zero this morning. Got settled in quite okay, obviously there is still room for improvement."

The new regulations mean that the German has to get used to many things, while the rest of the field has already had the chance to get used to the new cars during the test days. "Today was just an overload of information, of data, of everything, a lot of emotions as well, obviously. But it was fun being back in a Formula 1 car, having the speed sensation, having the G-Force back, so I enjoyed that one certainly and look forward to the rest now," Hulkenberg ends.