Hulkenberg affirms: 'Audi signed me ahead of guys with GP wins'

Nico Hulkenberg has already driven in 217 Grand Prix in Formula 1, but he has never won a race or even stood on the podium. The German has an unfortunate record in Formula 1 but is not too worried about it. Speaking to GP Racing magazine, he looks towards his multi-year deal with Audi.

"If you want to know how I feel about stats... I couldn't care less," he laughs. The veteran, who has spent the last two seasons at Haas, has never finished on the podium. He set that record - which you'd rather not get your hands on - in the 2017 Singapore Grand Prix. In doing so, he passed Adrian Sutil, who failed to finish in the top three in his 128 starts in Formula 1.

Hulkenberg, who secured one pole position for Williams at the Brazilian Grand Prix in 2010, has never been in the right machinery at the right time. "Of course, I would like to stand here and have grand prix victories under my belt and a world championship. Of course. Otherwise, I'm talking lies. But my career went how it went. There were a few opportunities missed for different reasons. I have accepted that. I digested that. I feel very happy about my career, and I'm very comfortable in my skin."

Hulkenberg: 'It's a powerful statement Audi contracted me'

According to Hulkenberg, the fact that a new works F1 project has signed him showcases his talent level. "And I think, again... that a company like Audi, with such a project, would sign me ahead of a lot of guys with grand prix wins, with better stats, is a very powerful statement. I think that says it all." Hulkenberg concludes. Will the 36-year-old's move to Audi pay off? Time will tell...

This article was written in collaboration with Toby Nixon.