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Nico Hulkenberg has said that he has "no major concerns" about the pace of the RS19, after completing their pre-season testing programme.
The French team managed to complete the third most number of laps over the two weeks, as well as showing some strong pace over one lap. It also set the fifth fastest lap in Barcelona, in what was an encouraging start to the year.
This comes after the team have made strides in the development of their power unit, which McLaren also use. They claim to have already reached the "high targets" that they had set for themselves over the winter as they edge closer to Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull.
“It feels okay,” Hulkenberg said when asked about his impressions of his new car. “You always have some weaknesses, if you’re entirely happy it means you’re under-driving it.
“When you push generally around here [Barcelona] it’s quite a tough track on the tyres so you have to be careful on a long stint not to go through tyres too quickly.
“We know Barcelona is very heavy and hard on the front left especially. You’ve got to distribute the tyre life over the stint, I think that’s the main limiting factor, more than car balance.
“Of course different cars probably are better or worse with tyres probably, but the car feels alright with low fuel high fuel - no major concerns in one area.”
The German driver has been paired up with the ever-smiling Australian Daniel Ricciardo for 2019, and he feels that he is on the same page regarding feedback with his new teammate.
“I think we have the same view, the same feeling about the car, more importantly we are looking for the same thing from the car which is good,” he added.
“For a team it can be confusing if one driver sometimes tells you left and one tells right, but it seems we’re on the same page there.”
Grand Prix of Belgium
C. Sainz jr
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Replies (2)
Login to replyRam Samartha
Posts: 1,172
But they didn't exactly beat Force India last year did they?
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Nor did they beat HAAS, they did a good job beating themselves up. I don't expect that to have changed, plus I suspect Alfa, McL and STR could be forces to reckon with this year..