Hulkenberg shocks the Formula One World with pole in Brazilian Grand Prix Qualifying
Hulkenberg, managed to astound all those that were watching, with a drive of a lifetime as he took pole position in qualifying for the Brazilian Grand Prix.
The Williams team has been long out of the spotlight since the advent of Juan Pablo Montoya and their BMW marriage. It hasn’t been since 2005 that the constructors have managed to find one of their own making headlines by claiming the top spot. That all
changed this weekend as Nico Hulkenberg made the best out of the varying conditions and posted the fastest time when it really mattered.
The young German was able to keep the top four title contenders behind his Williams. A weekend dominated by the Red Bulls, sees the duo of Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber starting in 2nd and 3rd respectively. Lewis Hamilton shall start
his Brazilian exploits from 4th while the Ferrari of Fernando Alonso occupies the 3rd row.
The final qualifying session was a tricky affair. The track was drying up after the overnight showers and it became a matter of top judgment and a tinge of a gamble to decide the tyre-ware suitable for the patchy track. This prompted the remaining 10 cars
to switch from the intermediates that they had used in pretty much all 3 qualifying sessions, to switch to the dry slicks in the dying stages.
It was eventually Nico Hulkenberg, who came out on top amongst utter confusion in pit garages. A driver whose future with the Williams team is up for debate was able to tame the corners of Interlagos and post a time nearly a second faster than the rest of
the field.
His team mate, on the other hand, Rubens Barrichello, could only manage sixth fastest. A result that, on any other day, might have made the Williams camp jump with joy, was easily overshadowed by a rather uncharacteristic drive by their German driver.
However, putting the qualifying hype aside for a bit, the obvious question is, is it a realistic position to be in come race day? Will we be able to see the Williams challenging the elites of the game after, say, 20 laps into the race?
Perhaps not, however, it might be a realistic thought believing that if nothing else, the German might influence the title race at the beginning. His car might act as the ‘slow moving obstacle’ that might impede a quick Mark Webber or Fernando Alonso. At
the end of the first corner, who knows, the complexion of the championships may already be decided.
On a concluding note though, it seems only fair to commend Nico Hulkenberg and hope the magic lasts for him in times to come.
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