Nico Hulkenberg Q&A: Las Vegas Grand Prix

The penultimate round of the season takes Formula 1 to the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix. Let’s put the racing aside for just one moment, how excited are you to touch down on the strip and for everything that’s to come this week?

“We’ve been talking about this event all year, so I’m happy that it’s finally time to race in Vegas. Another home race for the team and I’m keen to get a good result for us and our fans – it’s going to be tough, but you have to be ready to take a gamble in Sin City!”

 

What can you tell us about the track? At 6.2km, it’s the third longest circuit after Spa and Jeddah with 17 flowing corners. Have you already got Turn 13 marked out – where cars are set to race side-by-side down the Strip for two kilometers through the heart of the city?

“No driver will have had extensive preparation for this one, so practice is going to be important. I don’t normally do a track walk, so let’s see if I do one here, could be a unique way of seeing all the sights of the Vegas strip.”

Temperatures are expected to be as low as five degrees Celsius / 41 Fahrenheit, how do you expect that to impact running? 

“For a race weekend, it is unique to be running in such low temperatures, so we’ll have to see how easy it is to warm up our tires.”

 

It’s our final US race of the year, can you summarize what it’s been like racing at home this season and how the races differentiate themselves from the rest of the calendar?

“Miami was another level of activity and interest, and COTA feels like the home of Formula 1 in America since we’ve been racing there for quite a long time now. They all bring a different vibe, so I’m interested to see how Vegas will fit into our tour of the US.”