Hulkenberg: Magnussen’s quick, but I'm quicker

Hulkenberg returned to the F1 grid with Haas at the start of the 2023 F1 season after spending three seasons on the sideline in reserve roles.

The German filled in for compatriot Sebastian Vettel at the 2022 Bahrain and Saudi Arabian grands prix, the latter having contracted Covid-19, and also replaced Lance Stroll for the same reason at Racing Point for the Eifel and 70the Anniversary grands prix in 2020.

But with Mick Schumacher struggling, Haas decided to replace him by Hulkenberg alongside Kevin Magnussen for the 2023 season and have retained both drivers for 2024 recently.

Signing Hulkenberg at Haas brought back memories of his infamous clash with Magnussen at the 2017 Hungarian Grand Prix, where the German approached the Dane in the media pen interrupting his interview to call him "the most unsporting driver on the grid" to which the latter responded: "Suck my balls honey."

However, in an interview with Beyond the Grid Podcast on F1's Official Website, Hulkenberg insists his relationship with his teammate is great, Hungary 2017 being water under the bridge.

"It's good. It's very good. Hungary 2017 is way past us," Hulkenberg insisted. "Actually since last year, we started to have a good relationship. So Bahrain last year, Sunday morning, drivers turn up on the grid to do the beginning of your photo with everyone. I stood in for Seb and I think Kevin was the first guy standing there.

"He was on the little podium and my designated spot was right in front of him. So I approached him and then reached out my hand and gave him his exact words to his face. He found that quite funny and amusing. We kind of started to have a relationship from there, started talking more and there’s no hard feelings," he revealed.

"Actually, I think we’re in a very similar position and there’s a lot of parallels. We both had time away from F1 and came back. We both have family now, we’ve aged a few years, so we’re a bit more mature. There's zero tension or friction between us," the German explained.

While Magnussen beat Schumacher easily, he has been outpaced by Hulkenberg so far in 2023 the latter qualifying six times in the top ten in the precarious Haas VF-23.

Asked who of the Haas driver is fasters, Hulkenberg unsurprisingly answered: "He’s quick, but I'm quicker…

"Everyone is fast but it’s such small margins and the smallest difference can have a huge impact on the outcome. At the beginning of the year, I got a little bit of a better start with the car. I felt more confident and faster than him in the car.

"Then he gained some momentum, but then my momentum came back. I feel in quali, over one lap, very confident and strong right now because the car gives me what I need and I'm able to execute it pretty cleanly. I think if that's the case, if I have that feeling, I’m not the easiest guy to beat over one lap," the 36-year-old insisted.

Indeed Hulkenberg bagged pole position in is maiden F1 season back in 2010, where he put his Williams on the top grid sport for that year's race in Brazil in rainy condition, and has always been regarded as a fast driver despite not standing on the podium ever so far in his career.

Hulkenberg is currently 14th in the 2023 F1 Drivers' Championship with nine points, Magnussen is 18th with two points.