The two former team mates crossed paths again in the Singapore Grand Prix last weekend. For the second time this year, the Haas driver put one over his Red Bull rival.
But this clash was a much more prolonged affair. Hulkenberg had to soak up lap after lap of pressure from Perez, who he emerged in front of following his sole pit stop, with 32 laps remaining.
“It was very stressful keeping the Red Bull behind for the whole of the second stint,” admitted Hulkenberg afterwards. Here’s how he did it.
Having qualified sixth, Hulkenberg briefly got up to fifth at the expense of Oscar Piastri at the start, but the McLaren driver retook the position at turn seven on the first lap.
Piastri quickly pulled away, and Hulkenberg soon had the benefit of clear air ahead of him.
Lap: 4/62 HUL: 1’39.510
Hulkenberg
So Alonso behind, right?
Gannon
Correct, Alonso.
Lap: 6/62 HUL: 1’38.903
Gannon
Temps are all good at this lift-and-coast. Surface overheating on the rear is starting to increase.
Lap: 8/62 HUL: 1’38.821
Gannon
Nico, Colapinto is in nine, Tsunoda 11, so they have a gap to us. So we’ll try and extend a bit, extend.
Lap: 9/62 HUL: 1’38.404
Hulkenberg
A bit too much [front wing] flap now.
Gannon
Okay, understood. Stroll and Kevin are struggling a bit on hard. So go longer on this one if we can.
“Are we gapping the people?”
While Hulkenberg had Fernando Alonso and Charles Leclerc close behind him, Haas were more focused on ensuring he covered off the threats from Sergio Perez and potentially Franco Colapinto further behind.
They are at the top of the working range. Increasing lift-and-coast will help.
Lap: 12/62 HUL: 1’38.887
Gannon
Rear tyre temps have peaked. They’re coming down now. The rear will get better.
Gannon
It’s all going well, Nico. We’ll go as long as we can. Good job.
Lap: 15/62 HUL: 1’38.799
Gannon
Nico, watch 13 traction please.
Gannon
Sainz and Albon have boxed already. We’re just monitoring the gaps behind. But you’re doing good.
Lap: 16/62 HUL: 1’39.054
Gannon
How are the tyres, Nico? How are the tyres?
Hulkenberg
Yeah, they’re stable.
Gannon
All good from our side, too. Leclerc is threatening Alonso now. Safety Car and VSC windows are open.
Lap: 17/62 HUL: 1’38.771
Gannon
Nico, we still think the hard might be front-limited, so we’ll still add a bit [of front wing angle] on the hard. It will have less overheating too.
Lap: 18/62 HUL: 1’38.858
Hulkenberg
Okay.
Gannon
How’s the tyre, Nico? Still okay?
Hulkenberg
Yeah, at this pace. This is the pace we can do. Not sure we should dump some aero balance. Are we gapping the people?
Lap: 19/62 HUL: 1’39.143
Gannon
Albon retired. So we’re not worried about the gaps behind right now.
Gannon
This pace and deg is good and we are clearing the slow cars.
“You have cleared Stroll now”
While Hulkenberg continued to extend his lead over cars further behind, Alonso lost a place the Leclerc, which meant the Haas driver was now under pressure from the Ferrari.
I think maybe just leave aero balance as it is. It’ll pick up.
Gannon
Copy that, Nico. Hard will be more front-limited, so that’s good. We’ll leave it.
Lap: 22/62 HUL: 1’39.128
Gannon
We’re close to clearing Stroll on the race start hard, so that’s good, pace is good.
Lap: 23/62 HUL: 1’39.465
Gannon
Okay, Nico, watch the combined exit turn eight, turn 13.
Lap: 24/62 HUL: 1’39.268
Gannon
Pace is very good and you have cleared Stroll now.
Lap: 25/62 HUL: 1’39.691
Gannon
Leclerc passes Alonso Okay Leclerc behind now.
“He’s going to lose like two seconds with Leclerc”
Aston Martin responded by bringing Alonso into the pits. As Alonso had ‘undercut’ the Ferrari driver, Hulkenberg pointed out his rival was likely to end up being overtaken by Leclerc again later in the race, which will cost him more time.
Lap: 26/62 HUL: 1’39.569
Gannon
Okay Nico…
Hulkenberg
Did Alonso pit?
Gannon
Alonso boxed, yeah, he boxed. We’re just monitoring, he’s boxed.
Gannon
Alonso’s going to run into huge traffic.
Hulkenberg
Still think [unclear] lap?
Gannon
Yeah. Yeah.
Hulkenberg
Okay. My rears are also struggling more and more, just FYI.
Gannon
Yeah, copy that, we see it.
Lap: 27/62 HUL: 1’39.773
Gannon
Alonso’s in the group behind Kevin. Kevin’s doing 40.5, so we will eventually clear Kevin if we can go a few more laps.
Hulkenberg
So he’s going to lose like two seconds with Leclerc when he comes through
Gannon
Yeah understood there. We’ll still be able to clear Kevin, we hope.
“Let’s not get undercut”
Hulkenberg made sure his team reacted immediately to Perez pitting, which they did, enduring he came out still ahead of the Red Bull.
But if we’re gapping them, are you going to sit it out?
Gannon
No, we’re good now. Box now, Nico, box now.
“I need some stuff, man, come on”
Once he made his pit stop, Hulkenberg briefly fell behind Gasly, but was easily able to pass the Alpine.
Lap: 30/62 HUL: 2’01.641
Gannon
Okay. Colapinto boxed as well. Remember Mode RS. Just have Gasly to deal with.
Gannon
Gasly close on exit. Gasly’s slow, old tyre. Perez and Colapinto new tyre behind. Mode F1 when you can.
Hulkenberg
Hulkenberg tries to pass Gasly on the outside of turn seven but is forced wide Come on!
Gannon
Hulkenberg passes Gasly into turn 14 Good job, Nico. 32 to go, Nico, bring it home.
Lap: 31/62 HUL: 1’38.546
Hulkenberg
…Colapinto, you know what is going on with Perez’s tyres? I need some stuff, man, come on.
Gannon
New tyre, same as you, pitted one lap earlier. Colapinto same lap as you. In the first stint you were quicker than Perez. Colapinto’s still behind Gasly.
Lap: 32/62 HUL: 1’38.385
Gannon
Fernando is behind us somewhere or what? Fernando eight ahead, he pitted like seven laps earlier than you.
“You’re quicker than Perez is everywhere”
Although Perez stayed close to Hulkenberg in the DRS zones, he seldom looked quick enough to attack the Haas.
You’re quicker than Perez is everywhere. He’s only keeping up when he has DRS.
Lap: 34/62 HUL: 1’38.002
Gannon
Your pace is good. You’re quicker than Alonso.
Lap: 35/62 HUL: 1’37.470
Gannon
Tyres looking good. You’re quicker than Alonso and Sainz ahead. Alonso is six ahead, Sainz nine ahead, so you’re just closing up to them.
Lap: 36/62 HUL: 1’37.827
Gannon
Currently P9. So Sainz and Alonso will be in play at the end of the race. So we’ll just keep going like this.
Gannon
Leclerc is boxing on the hard, he’ll be close at the exit.
“Those shitty brakes”
Hulkenberg’s biggest concern in the second half of the race was the performance of his brakes, which he complained about more than once.
Lap: 38/62 HUL: 1’37.941
Gannon
Brake balance half a percent rearward. Tyres are looking good.
Hulkenberg
What’s the delta in tyre age, Alonso and us?
Gannon
Alonso is five laps older. Five laps older.
Lap: 39/62 HUL: 1’37.811
Hulkenberg
Oh man, those shitty brakes we have. The medium pressure brakes.
Gannon
Yeah. Copy that, Nico. Still very good lap time. Alonso’s doing 38.4.
Lap: 40/62 HUL: 1’37.919
Gannon
22 laps to go at the line. Leclerc overtook Alonso. Alonso 4.2 ahead.
Lap: 41/62 HUL: 1’37.994
Gannon
Brake balance half percent rearward.
Gannon
Press oil pump button.
Lap: 42/62 HUL: 1’37.911
Gannon
Nico, the tyres are looking good at this pace, you’re protecting them well. Perez may be picking up the pace. Alonso 38.3 still closing on him.
Hulkenberg
I don’t agree with the rearwards braking [unclear] the medium brakes. Sliding the rear more.
Gannon
Copy that Nico, go with your feeling. That was just for front locking, go with your feeling.
“Perez’s picked up his pace behind”
Perez made a final attempt to pressure Hulkenberg as they caught up to Alonso ahead. Hulkenberg seldom got close enough to use DRS, while Perez stayed within striking distance, yet was unable to make a move.
Ah it’s difficult in his wake now. Starting to feel it.
Gannon
Copy that. Perez has same complaint behind you.
Lap: 46/62 HUL: 1’37.919
Gannon
The tyres are looking very good, Nico, very good.
Lap: 47/62 HUL: 1’37.743
Gannon
All temperatures are good. So lift-and-coast just whatever you need for you.
Lap: 50/62 HUL: 1’38.705
Gannon
Kevin is slow with a puncture. Kevin slow into 14.
Lap: 54/62 HUL: 1’38.051
Gannon
Eight to go at the line. P9. Good job.
“Norris isn’t catching that quickly”
The Hulkenberg-Perez fight was disrupted in the closing laps by the leaders coming by to lap them.
Lap: 57/62 HUL: 1’38.109
Gannon
Six to go. Perez will have the blue first.
Gannon
Five to go at the line. Norris blue in one or two laps.
Lap: 58/62 HUL: 1’38.075
Gannon
Four to go. Norris isn’t catching that quickly.
Lap: 59/62 HUL: 1’37.915
Gannon
Okay, Perez had the blue. So now Norris 2.7 behind, leader, he’ll be a blue next lap.
Gannon
Break balance half a percent reawward if you want for front lock.
Lap: 60/62 HUL: 1’40.502
Gannon
Blue flag Norris, blue flag Norris, Perez, three behind Norris.
Gannon
Hulkenberg lets Norris past between turns seven and eight Perez three behind.
Gannon
It will be one lap to go at the line.
Lap: 61/62 HUL: 1’38.723
Gannon
Starting last lap here, Perez two behind.
“Perfect drive”
Once that was done Hulkenberg brought the car home in ninth place. But despite his satisfaction in beating a much quicker Red Bull, he was disappointed Alonso had been able to beat him home.
Chequered flag
Gannon
Chequered flag Nico, chequered flag, charge on. That’s P9 Nico, outstanding drive, perfect drive.
Gannon
Oh boy. I guess nobody said it was easy. Oh, fuck me. That was hard to bring that tyre home.
Gannon
Yeah, amazing Nico, you were pulling away from Perez. Great drive. No Safety Cars. Unbelievable. So great job, man, P9.
Hulkenberg
Can you give me the ranking please?
Gannon
Copy, sorry about that. P1 Norris, two Verstappen, three Piastri, foor Russell, five Leclerc, six Hamilton, seven Sainz, eight Alonso, nine you, 10 Perez, then Colapinto Tsunoda, Ocon, Stroll, Zhou, Bottas, Gasly, RIC and Kevin retired and Albon retired. So no points for Williams or RB.
Hulkenberg
Yeah, but I guess, I don’t know, the undercut from Alonso is not ideal. Five laps in clean air is probably possible.
Gannon
Yeah copy that. One Safety Car would have ruined it. Anyway, your drive was perfect. Thank you.
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