Nico Hulkenberg is playing down his status as Renault ‘team leader’, claiming that the term has little significance in modern Formula 1.
Hulkenberg, who was signed by Renault from Force India to spearhead their 2017 campaign, told Racer, “To be honest that’s not so important. I think that’s something that gets emphasized by the media, to lead the team.”
“What does it mean, to lead the team? You want to be in front, you want to beat your teammate. If you lead or not, it doesn’t matter.”
Hulkenberg’s teammate for 2017 is Jolyon Palmer whose rookie season was hardly stellar, but the Englishman obviously did enough to earn his place with the French team for another season.
Renault had a dismal 2016 season and Hulkenberg believes his role is to turn things around, to make the outfit a force again in Formula 1.
“It’s more important for me to help the team,” insisted the German. “To bring it forward, to develop it and then later on to develop for me. That also means I have to beat my teammate whoever that will be, both this year and beyond.”
“I’m not too fussed about the leader thing – I’m going to do my job and whoever is next to me is not really that important to me,” added Hulkenberg who will be seeking a first F1 career podium with his new team.
Read the full story at GRAND PRIX 247
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