Exclusive: Nico Hülkenberg Discusses the Surge of F1 Popularity in Germany

In an exclusive interview with Paddock Magazine, Audi’s first factory Formula 1 driver emphasises the importance of Ayao Komatsu’s contribution to his current F1 team and how F1’s perception in Germany can grow again.

Haas has a new team principal for this season. Has the impact of Ayao’s work already been seen, and is the team heading in the right direction?

I think Ayao is doing a good job, and obviously, many new things are coming at him after he switched to the team principal position. It’s not all about the engineering and technical side anymore, but he has to deal with all the commercial aspects of running a Formula 1 team as well.

I know that he’s got a lot on his plate. He has already made some good changes to our technical infrastructure and moved some things around. It’s been positive, and we are heading in the right direction.

You’ll be joining the Audi project next year. What do you think about F1’s perception in Germany?

From my perspective, I’ve noticed a resurgence of interest in Formula 1 in Germany. It’s important to remember that Germany has always had a strong presence in the sport, with the likes of the Schumachers, Seb, Rosberg, and Mercedes. We’ve consistently performed at a high level, and I believe this trend will continue.

It’s expected that, eventually, there will be a saturation effect. We’ve seen that, and maybe we’ve been through that cycle. F1 has changed a bit since the new owners took over; they’ve reworked it a bit and made it more funky and entertaining. It is more on the map again in Germany, and I’m optimistic about its future. Audi’s entry will also contribute to the sport’s popularity in Germany.

Looking back to 2010, what are the most significant changes in your driving style now? What are the main improvements? What’s made you such a rounded driver now?

I think it’s a continuous process for any driver, not just for me. You constantly try to improve your driving skills and input.

And yeah, it just takes time. Obviously, after all these years with different generations of cars, you constantly keep learning, adjusting, and improving yourself. So it’s like in any sport: whether you’re a tennis player, golfer, or basketball player, you always try to improve your game and get an edge over the competition.

Fernando Alonso…