6 décembre 2018
Work / Life : Formula 1 Driver
A day in the life of…
Nico Hülkenberg, Formula 1 Driver
What’s your job responsibility ?
My department is made up of two people. We’re responsible for bringing the car home on track, scoring points for the team and developing the car as best we can.
Describe a typical day in your job ?
At a race weekend, on a Friday for example, I wake up, go to the track and have some breakfast before the first of the meetings. Then I get ready for FP1, go in the car for an hour or so, followed by a debrief and some lunch. I always have a half an hour power nap after lunch. Then I’m back in the car for FP2, which is followed by another debrief. Some media work will follow and then it’s a drivers’ meeting. I quite like to do some recovery in my room in the hospitality suite, a massage or something, before another meeting. As you can imagine, we have a lot of meetings, which aren’t always the most exciting, but important nevertheless. Then it’s dinner time and the end of the day.
How did you get the job ?
It all began in karting when I was 10 years old and I won a couple of championships. Then I went into single-seaters, winning my first championship in my rookie season. After that, I progressed through the junior categories, picking up a few more titles, and then winning GP2 as the final hurdle before Formula 1. In 2010, I was racing with Williams and that’s where the Formula 1 career started. I kept progressing, kept learning and improving, before I joined Renault ahead of the 2017 season. It’s been a very enjoyable journey to date.
What is your most memorable moment so far ?
My birth. When the Hulk was born.
What’s the worst part of your job ?
I guess doing all the media work.
And the best part of your job ?
Making life hard for the media people.
How do you unwind ?
Basic stuff like chilling on my bed. A bit of Netflix and chill with room service. Meet up with some friends, basic things like that.
What do you do before going to sleep ?
I set the alarm.
