New Sauber driver Nico Hulkenberg said eighth place in Malaysia last Sunday was "unacceptable". After moving over the winter from Force India, the German was unable to make his debut as scheduled in Australia when a terminal fuel tank problem developed 90 minutes before the race. But at Sepang, he finished four places ahead of rookie teammate Esteban Gutierrez, collecting four points and declaring himself "quite happy".
According to German-language sources Blick (Switzerland) and Auto Motor und Sport (Germany), however, Hulkenberg told his team after crossing the line that the result was "unacceptable". "Thank you guys," he is quoted as having said by radio, "but we have to improve in many areas. This is not acceptable."
Blick quotes the 25-year-old as adding: "When I go at the speed of Ferrari, Lotus and McLaren, I quickly ruin the tyres. Now we have a lot of data and impressions and I hope we can draw the right conclusions." Auto Motor und Sport quotes Hulkenberg as saying: "There are still some areas where there are gaps. The car does not fit me like a shoe."
Meanwhile, France's RMC Sport claims Romain Grosjean appeared "visibly reassured" after the chequered flag in Malaysia, having struggled with essentially the same Lotus that powered Kimi Raikkonen to victory a week earlier. Grosjean finished sixth at Sepang, one place ahead of his Finnish teammate, but French commentator Patrick Tambay concluded: "Romain was on par with him (Raikkonen)" all weekend. "We have two strong drivers," agreed team boss Eric Boullier. (GMM)
Sauber situation is not acceptable - Hulkenberg
- Published on 27 Mar 2013 08:45
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- By: Rob Veenstra
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Driver profile
- Team -
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- Country FR
- Date of b. Apr 17 1986 (40)
- Place of b. Geneve, FR
- Weight 71 kg
- Length 1.8 m
3 members have this team as their favourite
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Team profile
- Team name Sauber
- Base - Switzerland
- Gabriel Bortoleto
- Kimi Räikkönen 7
- Felipe Massa 8
- Marcus Ericsson 9
- Nico Hülkenberg 11
- Felipe Nasr 12
- Esteban Gutierrez 12
- Felipe Massa 12
- Felipe Massa 12
- Kamui Kobayashi 14
- Sergio Perez 15
- Charles Leclerc 16
- Kamui Kobayashi 16
- Sergio Perez 17
- Kimi Räikkönen 17
- Esteban Gutierrez 21
- Kamui Kobayashi 23
- Guanyu Zhou 24
- Nico Hülkenberg 27
- Antonio Giovinazzi 36
- Valtteri Bottas 77
- Pascal Wehrlein 94
- Adrian Sutil 99
- 115,816 comments on Sauber
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