Nico Hulkenberg eyes winning combo

The watchmaker is proudly Dutch, while the 27-year old German Formula One ace has nerves of steel to land the world title one day.

Dubai — Nico Hulkenberg and TW Steel have things in common. The watchmaker is proudly Dutch, while the 27-year old German Formula One ace has nerves of steel to land the world title one day.

TW Steel, the name meaning ‘The Watch in Steel’, has rapidly established itself as a big, bold, lifestyle brand and is known for its large oversized watches and chronographs. Its collections are reflective of, and available for all tastes and occasions without compromise to design or build, says the company literature. So is Nico or the ‘Hulk’ as he is fondly called among his racing friends and the F1 fraternity. The Sahara Force India driver who with Sergio Perez of Mexico has put his team in a creditable sixth spot in the constructors’ standings after being in third position during the early phase of the 18 races in the 19-event F1 calendar for 2014, like TW Steel, makes a powerful statement through his high levels of commitment once he transforms himself from a soft spoken gentleman into a ‘mean machine’ within a machine.

Hulkenberg has four fifth-place finishes in 13 races this season while Perez has a podium (3rd place) finish in the 2014 calendar.

The Khaleej Times had a short chat with Hulkenberg on Wednesday evening at the Hour Choice outlet located at the Mall of the Emirates during a promotion of his team’s (Sahara Force India) endorsement with TW Steel.

Hour Choice is the leading retail chain representing some of the top brands in the world including TW Steel. “Getting to the top is a long long road even if one has to wait late in a career,” said Hulkenberg.

“The engine advancements and refinements are unbelievably complicated and changing so fast but as drivers we have to learn quickly or we will be out of business,” he added, “In today’s context and standings the Mercedes engine has surpassed all kinds of tests and situations to be called the best now.”

“But things change in just a season’s time, tomorrow it might another maker like when Mercedes returned it was the Renault and a couple of makers who were up in front, but now they are in the chasing pack behind the Mercedes engine.”

“What I would want is to be part of a good car-team combo to be able to have a try at the drivers’ and constructors’ world championships one day,” he said.

On the weekend’s race in Abu Dhabi Hulkenberg, said: “In all probability, it’s going to be Hamilton. He has driven himself into an in-form no looking back situation.

About the circuit at Yas Marina Hulkenberg, added: “The run is tight with so many tough corners but it has remained consistent on the surface and elsewhere for us to assess it and run according to a plan during a race.”

moni@khaleejtimes.com

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