Nico Hulkenberg has offered a somewhat mixed reaction to the test performance of Robert Kubica last week in Hungary.
The Polish driver completed his first public running in a Formula 1 car for six years and got his first taste of the 2017 Renault as he and the Enstone-based team weigh up a potential return in 2018.
Should Kubica get the nod over Jolyon Palmer and other potential contenders, Hulkenberg, who has already said he would have no problem with the former Grand Prix winner alongside him, would be his teammate for next season.
“To be honest, I don’t have much information. I wasn’t on-site. I had some information and I obviously saw the lap times. I think, for him personally, obviously a great comeback”, the German said of the Pole’s test to Motorsport.com.
“After the severe accident and injuries he had to come back and drive a modern Formula 1 car and to do 140 laps, just like that, is quite impressive. Especially at a track like Budapest, which is very physical. So respect for that.”
The deciding factor will be Kubica’s overall pace, however, with his best time was only a tenth slower than Palmer’s qualifying time but set on a softer compound than the Briton.
Though not fully informed, Hulkenberg didn’t appear totally convinced.
“I think the performance also, it seemed alright,” he claimed. “So I’m not sure what’s going to happen, what Renault wants to do, but the test was OK, I think.”
