After a tough double-header, Nico Hulkenberg heads to the Circuit of the Americas in a determined mood as he eyes up a return to the points with the season entering its business end.
What’s so special about the US Grand Prix?
I really like going to Texas for the US Grand Prix. Austin is a cool city and has a nice vibe, so it’s a great place to host a Formula 1 race. It’s generally a great event and the enjoyment factor is very high. I quite like my food and America is good for that, especially burgers and the cheat stuff. Although, I won’t have any fast food before the race, come Sunday night I’ll be sure to tuck into some ‘local treats’. Year on year, the United States has proved to be a very fun Grand Prix weekend.
What’s there to say about the Circuit of the Americas?
The track is a real standout on the 2018 calendar. It’s really well designed with a lot of cool corner combinations, which flow one after the other and requires a good rhythm. Sector one is quite similar to Maggots-Becketts-Chapel at Silverstone, as it flicks and flows at high-speed. That’s what us drivers love. You need a good balance in Austin to set-up for the flowing corners and also for the two long straights. The circuit is quite high on brake wear and also fuel consumption, so those are areas to be wary about, but nevertheless, Austin is a circuit which puts a smile on my face!
What’s the Hulk’s mindset for the final four races in 2018?
It’s been a tough couple of races, but we remain positive and eager to bounce back for the last four weekends of the season. Japan didn’t go to plan, but we’re aiming to learn from what happened to be best prepared for Austin. I’m determined to be in the points for the last four races – as is Carlos on the other side of the garage – so it’s going to be maximum effort to extract the most from the current package and ensure we keep fourth place in the Constructors’ Championship.
Our preview for the #USGP continues, for this one we asked @HulkHulkenberg & @Carlossainz55 to quiz each other on all things @COTA … ??#RSspirit pic.twitter.com/NgmhJWqU4U
— Renault Sport F1 (@RenaultSportF1) October 16, 2018
