Nico Hulkenberg at Russian GP 2019 believes Renault deserves a better result than this at Russian GP 2019. Nico Hulkenberg finished at 10th position.
The usual drama post Ferrari’s resurgence
Mercedes emerged right on top at a venue where they’ve previously ruled with an iron fist while Ferrari succumbed to a concoction of an intra-team controversy and poor luck as the Russian GP 2019 saw Hamilton return to where he usually stands: right on the top of the podium. But who were the other gainers from the 53-lap run at Sochi, a closely fought race between the Mercedes of Bottas and Leclerc’s Ferrari, if not the most thrilling contest in a long time?
What was there for the midfielders?
While the Red Bulls were able to collect a strong team result, overall, with Alex Albon driving a great race to recovery, having begun the contest from the pit-lane, following teammate Max Verstappen, on fifth, the likes of Renault were able to only score a solitary point.
This was a bit of a letdown, particularly because at the end of the qualifying run on Saturday, both the Renault cars of Daniel Ricciardo- P10, and Nico Hulkenberg- P7, seemed in fine knick.
Yet, on race-day, the Renault’s struggled especially when compared to the faster straight-line speed of the two McLarens and the Haas of Kevin Magnussen.
What didn’t help Renault’s cause one bit was the opening lap fiasco to which Daniel Ricciardo became an apparent victim, retiring in the mid-stages around Lap 24.
This, therefore, meant that the only Renault car running in the contention for a points finish was Nico Hulkenberg’s.
Not such a fine day for Nico Hulkenberg at Russian GP 2019
Not such a fine day for Nico Hulkenberg at Russian GP 2019 and in the end, that the experienced German was only able to grab a solitary point, courtesy a P10.
Now, while statistically, this was a much better outcome than the fate of the two Alfa Romeos, both Raikkonen and Giovinnazi finishing outside of points as well as the Toro Rosso of Daniil Kvyat- the local-hero- failing to break into the top-ten, Nico Hulkenberg was right on the money is suggesting that the RS 19 deserved a lot more at Sochi.
Isn’t it?
While surely, the Renault RS 19 wasn’t the strongest car running on the grid, it was in no way, a sitting duck when compared to the pace of the McLarens.
An impressive showing on Saturday revealed that the car was only behind the McLarens in qualifying, with Nico Hulkenberg finishing right behind Carlos Sainz on P7 on Saturday, did raise the hopes to see a closely-fought result on Sunday.
What Nico Hulkenberg garnered at the end of the qualifying was a strong 1:33:289, just a little over a second behind the Mercedes of Valtteri Bottas, just to show the gap between a top-notch car and a determined midfielder.
Why you’ve got to feel bad for Nico?
Importantly, throughout the race-weekend, Hulkenberg maintained a sense of superiority over his Australian teammate, with Ricciardo’s hopes of gaining something sizeable at Sochi ruined by the opening lap skirmish featuring Giovinazzi.
But one can’t really blame Nico Hulkenberg at Russian GP 2019 for feeling a bit letdown for the simple reason that a combination of a decent opening lap, a slow pitstop which wasn’t down to his fault at all, and the contest being stifled by the virtual safety car thanks to Vettel’s retirement put his contest on the backfoot.
In the end, Hulkenberg, who defied the likes of Stroll, Kvyat, and Raikkonen and was, at one point, involved in a close scrap with Alex Albon, could finish with only a lowly P10.
Yet, while it’s a saving grace that at least the Emmerich am Rhein-born was able to score for Renault as Ricciardo’s weekend ended with a run-in with poor luck, you can’t help but feel that the Renault would’ve challenged the likes of Norris if the “Hulk” would have not been sidelined by his own team’s scrappy work down in the pits.