Hulkenberg: I’d try politics for a day!

On August 19, Nico Hulkenberg turned 37, and apparently that’s also the reason why the official website of the championship published an interview with the German driver today. The interview is quite funny and not all questions in it are dedicated to motorsport…

Q: Can you describe yourself in three words somehow?

Nico Hulkenberg: In three words? It’s never easy! I would say this: “goal-oriented, honest and cheerful.”

Q: How did you fall in love with Formula 1? How did it all start?

Nico Hulkenberg: I think I have always liked fast cars, it was their speed that attracted me. That is where it all started, and I still like it now. I like competitions, I like to experience this adrenaline rush!

Q: Where and when did you first drive in your life?
Nico Hulkenberg: I think my first go-kart was when I was about eight. That’s how it all started. Absolutely, I would say it was love at first sight. One of the good things about motorsport is that the stopwatch never lies, and I went fast straight away. I loved racing and my dad loved it too.

Question: Since when did you pass the driving license exam?
Nico Hulkenberg: I think it was more of a test for my driving instructor! (laughs) Of course, the first time!

Q: Which Formula 1 driver would you trust to take care of your dog – at least for a day?
Nico Hulkenberg: (laughs) Maybe Lewis Hamilton. He is a proven dog specialist, and I also believe that he has the most responsible attitude towards animals of all.

Q: Good choice! Who is your best friend in the paddock?
Nico Hulkenberg: There are many good people there, and over the years I have developed relationships with many of them, including friendships. But the answer is this: it is the entire Haas catering staff, because they take such good care of me. These people are excellent at what they do and do work that is very important to the entire team.

Q: And outside the paddock?
Nico Hulkenberg: I don’t have many friends, but I have two or three people who I consider very good friends. I can talk to them openly about any subject, some of whom I have known since childhood, and some of whom I have known for ten years.

Q: Which three people from the world of Formula 1, past or present, would you invite to dinner and who would they be?
Nico Hulkenberg: Oh my! The choice is very wide, but I prefer the drivers who used to participate: I would like to invite James Hunt to check whether everything that is said about him is true. I would also like to call Alan Jones, he is an interesting and funny person, and maybe Nigel Mansell.

Q: If you were to organize your dream team, who would you invite? Which riders would compete for it, and who would be the leader?
Nico Hulkenberg: Again, there are so many talented drivers to choose from… I would choose Michael Schumacher and Niki Lauda, ​​and Ross Brawn would be the leader of such a team.

Q: If you could put together a musical group from the racers, who would you invite and what would it be called?
Nico Hulkenberg: Here you have to think, but this takes time! (laughs) But if you need a quick answer, I would call Max Verstappen, Carlos Sainz and maybe Alex Albon. And we would be called Back Straight Boys!

Q: If you were to create a menu of your favorite foods, what would it look like for an appetizer, main course, and dessert?
Nico Hulkenberg: A hamburger, then another hamburger, and another hamburger! And also tiramisu and Coca-Cola! (laughs)

Q: What was the best advice you ever received?
Nico Hulkenberg: “Sometimes you have to take a step back to take a few steps forward.”

Q: What was the worst advice?
Nico Hulkenberg: I don’t know, I try to forget bad advice as quickly as possible.

Q: What was the strangest gift you ever received from fans?

Nico Hulkenberg: I don’t know if this can be considered a gift, but one day in Australia – I can’t remember last year or this – one of the fans gave me a book about Kevin. Maybe it was even a biography of Magnussen. So he gave me this book and asked Kevin to sign it. Of course Kevin signed it, and the book was returned to this fan.

Q: If you had the chance to try yourself in another profession for a day, what would you choose?
Nico Hulkenberg: It would be a very different thing from racing. Maybe I’ll try politics for a day!

Q: We’ve never heard this before! A couple of times the racers said they wanted to be astronauts, one of them said he wanted to be a zookeeper, and you chose politics…
Nico Hulkenberg: So this is because politicians have nothing to do, they hardly do anything and that’s why they are so relaxed!

Q: If you could have one superpower, what would it be?
Nico Hulkenberg: Sure, I would like to be able to fly. It would be a very efficient way to move through space, and I would be spared the hassle of wasting time in airport lines. And there would be no flight delays.

Q: What is your proudest achievement in Formula 1?
Nico Hulkenberg: I may remember the race at the Nürburgring in October 2020. Then everything happened in a rather crazy way, starting with me sitting on the couch at home, and then I got an offer to take part in the race.

Within three hours I was behind the wheel and performing in qualifying, and the next day, without any preparation, starting the race from last position, I finished 8th.

Q: What advice would you give aspiring racers?
Nico Hulkenberg: In motorsport you have to work hard, you need determination, so it’s important not to compromise and surround yourself with good, strong-willed people who can really help you, including advice.