Hulkenberg delighted with 'unusual' Renault success

Nico Hulkenberg completed more laps than any other driver on the opening morning of the first testing day ahead of the 2018 Formula One season at the Circuit de Catalunya, a successful outing the Renault driver admitted was "really unusual" given previous struggles.

Hulkenberg completed 73 laps on Monday morning in Barcelona, Brendon Hartley was next best in the Toro Rosso with 72.

Only Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull went quicker than Hulkenberg's best lap of one minute and 20.547 seconds, with the Renault works team looking to make gains up the grid this term.

Renault were beset by reliability problems this time last year and the memory of that brought Monday's achievements into a greater light for the German.

? Morning done with Nico!
? 1:20.547
???? 73 laps

Most laps out of everyone ????
Fourth fastest ????#RSspirit #F1Testing ##MondayMotivation pic.twitter.com/1XBaLpbhmL — Renault Sport F1 (@RenaultSportF1) February 26, 2018

"First impressions are positive to be honest, especially if you compare to 12 months ago, how the first morning went and how it did go today," Hulkenberg told Autosport.

"It's a huge difference. We've made a lot of progress, the car ran really well.

"We got through every single detail of the programme, which is really unusual for the first day."