Nico Hulkenberg has revealed that he is still yearning to become a Formula 1 race-winner, as he embarks on leading the line at the nascent Audi squad.
The German outfit makes its debut in the sport this year, taking over from the existing Sauber team, after many years of successes in other forms of motorsport.
Hulkenberg is very much one of F1’s renaissance men, having returned to the sport in 2023 after a three-year absence.
And the popular and talented German finally broke a personal duck last year, taking a long-awaited first podium at the British Grand Prix.
In a career that has never yielded the machinery to allow him to consistently compete at the front of the field, Hulkenberg’s ability has never been in doubt.
Audi has set itself a target of being winners by the year 2030, by which time Hulkenberg will be 43.
And despite now being very much a veteran of the sport, Hulkenberg is keen to tick a box on his career, but is cautious and aware that the team is learning to walk before it can run.
Nico Hulkenberg is still eyeing a Grand Prix victory, as Audi takes its first steps into F1. Image: Audi
“That’s the dream, winning a race. The podium is done,” he said.
“Winning a race is somewhat a target, a goal, a dream. It’s about maximising your opportunities, the potential that’s in the car, and just maximising it.
“Obviously, it all depends on where we start, how competitive we are this year. Still, we don’t know compared to 10 minutes ago.
“Of course, it would be a dream come true, but we need to be a bit more patient and see where we are out of the blocks.”
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