Nico Hülkenberg (Meet the rookies)
16th August 2007, 9:00 by Keith Collantine 6 Comments »
“I can say that the boy has an unbelievable talent. So much about him already reminds me of Michael Schumacher.”
Who’s this talking? Michael Schumacher’s manager, Willi Weber.
And what potential star of the future is he pushing? Nico Hülkenberg.
A new generation of German drivers are following in Schumacher’s footsteps. Already this year Adrian Sutil, Markus Winkelhock and Sebastian Vettel have made their Grand Prix debuts. And Hülkenberg is next in line to follow them.
He was born in Emmerich, Germany on August 19th, 1987 – so he’s still a teenager for three more days!
At the age of 15 he won the German Junior Kart Championship and in 2003 he became German Kart Champion. He remained in the series for another season, finishing second overall.
After another year in the German Kart Championship, in which he finished second, Hülkenberg stepped up to the German Formula BMW championship in 2005 and won it first time.
He also finished first in the Formula BMW world final – but was demoted to third after the stewards decided he had brake-tested other drivers during a safety car period. Vastly talented and controversial? Sounds like Schumacher to me.
Formula Three followed but Hülkenberg entered the German series in 2006 rather than the more prestigious European championship. He ended the year fifth, winning once at the Hockenheimring, but not scoring any further wins after a mid-season switch from the Dallara to the new Ligier chassis.
Hülkenberg came of age in the second A1 Grand Prix championship in the winter of 2006-07. He started all but two races for the German team, and the outfit that finished 15th in 2005-06 were champions thanks to Hülkenberg’s nine victories. He collected the winner’s trophy from Michael Schumacher…
He returned to Formula Three for 2007, stepping up to the Euroseries with champions ASM. But it’s been a year of inspiration and exasperation in equal measure.
He was second in the season opener at Hockenheim, sensationally won at the Norisring from 18th on the grid and added another fine win in the wet at Zandvoort.
But he crashed out of the first Norisring race, was penalised at Magny-Cours for passing the chequered flag twice in qualifying and collided with Filip Salaquarda in the race.
With eight races to go he is fifth in the championship, 41 points behind team mate and championship leader Romain Grosjean. But Hülkenberg took an important win in the prestigious, non-championship Masters of Formula 3 race at Zolder.
Can he end his season on a high? Weber is certainly expecting him to. He reckons: “If everything goes to plan Nico should be ready for Formula One in 2008.”
Photos: F3 Euroseries
Alianora La Canta said on 16th August 2007, 11:00
I’ve never heard of anyone passing the chequered flag twice before. Nico Hulkenburg must be one keen lad!
I also see what you mean about Nico making me feel even older than his championship-leading team-mate. Although I doubt he’ll be ready for F1 in 2008, I can very easily see him making it in 2009, when he’s a bit more consistent.
Mark said on 16th August 2007, 23:45
I watched Nico at the A1 GP at Eastern Creek in April.
He was mesmerising! It was like watching a man amongst boys.
I can’t wait to see him in F1.
Number 38 said on 17th August 2007, 15:46
We ran Schumacher, and Montoya and even Vileneuve out of F1 so they could be replaced with this garbage? We have no cause to blame Bernie and MadMax any longer, we’re destroying F1 ourselves.
Kiky said on 9th September 2007, 1:03
No doubt about it, he’s as good as Schumacher. If you see A1 Sentul last year, while he was driving in rain condition,, I felt like I was watching Schumi drive there…….
Henky Raikkonen said on 14th September 2007, 7:00
What can i say, nico got almost everything especially tallent.. just wait for 1 or 2 year forward, then you can see the action from the new F1 masters, Nico “Nitro” Hulkenberg.. Bravo Bro..