P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Nico Hulkenberg has praised a rule for sprint weekends that allows setup changes to be made between the sprint and grand prix qualifying, after it allowed him to alter his Haas between sessions following a change that “backfired” on the team.
Nico Hulkenberg expressed approval for the F1 regulation change allowing setup alterations between sprint and main qualifying, considering it a necessary step introduced for this season. The amended order of sprint weekends, opening parc ferme for three hours on Saturday, enabled Hulkenberg to correct his setup mistake during the Chinese Grand Prix weekend. Initially starting in P13 for the sprint, he fell to P19 due to setup choices and used tyres but qualified ninth for the grand prix after adjusting settings. Hulkenberg appreciated the rule change as it gave him the chance to rectify the setup decision that backfired during the sprint portion. He emphasized the importance of being able to make setup changes part-way through the sprint weekend and believed the new rules provided a better way for drivers to work with their setups effectively. Despite the challenges of limited practice time at sprint events, Hulkenberg did not necessarily see the need for longer sessions, instead highlighting the benefits of having time between sessions to analyze data and make informed setup changes. Post-sprint, Hulkenberg reflected on the setup changes and recognized the unexpected behavior resulting from adjustments made after FP1.
