Hulkenberg prepared for 'physical challenge' after Aston Martin call-up

Topher Smith
Friday 18 March 2022 12:25 - Updated: 12:28

Nico Hulkenberg is prepared for a physical challenge after conceding to "zero" real-life racing since his last F1 appearance in 2020.

Hulkenberg has been called up to race for Aston Martin this weekend in place of Sebastian Vettel who has tested positive for Covid-19.

Having been out of action since his last appearance at the 2020 Eifel Grand Prix, Hulkenberg is all too aware of the challenge facing him.

"I got called out bed pretty much yesterday morning. I got the news, packed up and got going," explained Hulkenberg.

"It's obviously a bit of an interesting situation again, so I'm just going to take it lap by lap, session by session.

"I haven't been in the car for five or six days so it's probably going to take a few laps to get some of the rust off me.

"To obviously get the feeling again, to get a good harmony with the car and find the limit. Physically, for sure the driving fitness is not there so there's going to be many challenges, the overload of information today.

"For me, it's just about getting in the car, get up to speed with it and get a good feel."

Hulkenberg "experience" to aid return

In his F1 career to date, Hulkenberg has made 179 race starts after making his F1 debut in 2010 with Williams.

Hopeful his F1 experience will aid his return, Hulkenberg added: "[I've] just [done] simulator stuff, just the Aston [Martin] sim. That's the only thing I drove. In real life racing, zero.

"The only thing is I've done it before, I know what to expect. I know how it is to walk in the garage and see the car, I have that experience and for sure that will help me.

"Obviously, the time away has been quite some days and these cars are completely new.

"The last time I came [back] it was to my benefit that I knew what that generation of cars were like and what I was going to get more or less.

"This is a totally white piece of paper now that I'm about to find and [I hope] I hit the ground running. I just need to feel it, drive it and learn as fast as possible, but certainly not an easy situation."