Adrian Newey allegedly referred to current Audi F1 driver Nico Hulkenberg as \u201ctoo big from the waist up\u201d for one of his cars.<\/p>\n
Damon Hill, the 1996 world champion and former colleague of Newey at Williams, claimed Newey made the comment about Hulkenberg and demonstrates how \u201cevery little bit is calculated\u201d in F1 design.<\/p>\n
Adrian Newey comment on Nico Hulkenberg physique recalled by Damon Hill<\/p>\n
Want more PlanetF1.com coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a> for news you can trust.<\/p>\n Having designed title-winning machinery for Williams, McLaren and Red Bull, Newey has established himself as one of the greatest car designers in Formula 1 history.<\/p>\n His latest quest has taken him to Aston Martin, a team building its foundations with future title challenges in mind.<\/p>\n During an appearance on The Undercut podcast, Hill brought up a comment which Newey apparently made to him about Nico Hulkenberg, a former Aston Martin driver.<\/p>\n At 1.84 metres<\/a>, Hulkenberg is one of the tallest drivers in Formula 1. It is his upper body height which apparently put Newey off.<\/p>\n Hulkenberg was previously considered for a Red Bull drive, at the time Newey was with the team.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you could design drivers, then he\u2019d be away,\u201d Hill said of the design guru.<\/p>\n \u201cI remember once him talking about Hulkenberg. He said, \u2018What do you think of Hulkenberg?\u2019 \u2018He\u2019s pretty decent\u2019. \u2018The trouble is he\u2019s too big from the waist up\u2019.<\/p>\n \u201cIn other words, he was taking into account the effect on the chassis of the guy\u2019s physique, as being sufficiently negative to offset whatever benefit he brought as a driver.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, sorry, Nico, but you know, nothing you could do about that. Chop your arm off, I suppose!<\/p>\n \u201cBut, it really was that important to [Newey]. Every little bit is calculated. Any kind of extra weight above the centre line of the car is no good.\u201d<\/p>\n More on Adrian Newey from PlanetF1.com<\/p>\n Damon Hill backs Adrian Newey vision despite Aston Martin Honda struggles<\/a><\/p>\n Jenson Button\u2019s \u2018jealousy\u2019 of Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll over Adrian Newey cars<\/a><\/p>\n Hulkenberg was in contention for a 2021 Red Bull seat<\/a>, it was recently confirmed by Helmut Marko, then Red Bull\u2019s senior advisor.<\/p>\n Ultimately, the team went with Sergio Perez as the new teammate to Max Verstappen.<\/p>\n Perez\u2019s 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix win, his first in Formula 1, tipped the scales in his favour, and landed him the drive.<\/p>\n At that time, Newey was busy designing the Red Bull RB16B which Verstappen drove to his first world championship in 2021.<\/p>\n Hulkenberg spent that season as Aston Martin\u2019s reserve driver, and made two stand-in appearances the following year, before he returned to the grid with Haas in 2023.<\/p>\n He joined Sauber in 2025, and remained for the team\u2019s Audi F1 evolution.<\/p>\n Hulkenberg scored his long-awaited first Formula 1 podium with Sauber at the 2025 British Grand Prix, his 239th race start.<\/p>\n Want to be the first to know exclusive information from the F1 paddock? Join our broadcast channel on WhatsApp<\/a> to get the scoop on the latest developments from our team of accredited journalists.<\/p>\n You can also subscribe to the PlanetF1 YouTube channel<\/a> for exclusive features, hear from our paddock journalists with stories from the heart of Formula 1 and much more!<\/p>\n