Nico Hulkenberg ready for "hell of a challenge" at Eifel Grand Prix

Eifel Grand Prix

Hulkenberg ready for "hell of a challenge" at Eifel Grand Prix

Hulkenberg was a late call up for the unwell Lance Stroll

Ewan Gale

Saturday 10 October 2020 16:04 Updated: 16:31

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Stand-in Racing Point driver Nico Hülkenberg believes the Eifel Grand Prix will be a "hell of a challenge" after again filling in for the team at the 11th hour.

For the second time this season Racing Point was forced to call on Hülkenberg who was a late call-up in July when Sergio Perez tested positive for Covid-19 ahead of the Silverstone double-header.

On this occasion, with Lance Stroll missing final practice at the Nurburgring through illness, team principal Otmar Szafnauer again turned to Hulkenberg, who was only an hour away in Cologne.

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Due to his short-notice appointment, the German will start last, and with just four fast laps under his belt, he is expecting a difficult race.

"It felt quite different compared to Silverstone," said Hülkenberg with regard to the call-up.

"Obviously, it is a completely different circuit, there are a couple of technical bits that are very different and give the driver a very different sensation so I just had to adjust to that a little bit.

"It was just finding my feet again and in four laps, that isn't so easy. All-in-all, even though I am last I am quite pleased with the laps that we produced just now.

"Tomorrow is going to be very difficult and a hell of a challenge but we will do what we can. Obviously, I have the experience, the four laps in the pocket now. Those will sink in and tomorrow we will go racing and see what we get.

"You have to expect the unexpected and it is what happened again today."

Explaineing the process of being drafted in on Saturday morning, claiming it was "even wilder and crazier than last time", Hülkenberg added: "I was in Cologne.

"I was due to come here this afternoon anyway to do some TV stuff with RTL tomorrow.

"I was sat with a friend having a coffee when I see that Otmar [Szafnauer] ringing me and he says 'Hülkenberg, hurry, we need you here' and I stepped in the car and the rest is history.

"We have seen what has happened. Two-point overturn in a moment of a heartbeat."

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