Nico Hulkenberg of Germany, driving for the Haas VF-24, made a pit stop during the Chinese Grand Prix, which took place on April 21, 2024. Haas Team Principal Ayao Komatsu expressed his delight at the team’s performance, describing it as a flawless race that resulted in a point for Hulkenberg. This achievement marked the third time this season that Haas has finished in the points, bringing them closer to RB in the Constructors’ Championship standings. Komatsu attributed the success to exceptional race optimization and fortunate circumstances, such as Valtteri Bottas’ retirement on Lap 22. He praised the entire team for their communication and execution, stating that they had executed a perfect race with Hulkenberg.
Hulkenberg had anticipated a challenging race due to the characteristics of the Shanghai circuit but was able to convert a Q3 appearance into another point. Reflecting on the race, Hulkenberg acknowledged the difficulty but expressed satisfaction with how well the team managed and controlled the race. He emphasized that the team’s ability to secure the point was dependent on one of the top five cars encountering a problem. Hulkenberg also recognized the need for a flawless performance in qualifying and on race day in order to compete with the top teams.
Looking ahead to the Miami Grand Prix, Hulkenberg anticipated another demanding race in hot conditions, which would likely impact tire degradation. He mentioned that he enjoyed his experience at the Miami Grand Prix last year and expressed his excitement to return for another challenging weekend.