Q:
How are you feeling about your new appointment?

Nico Hulkenberg:
I'm pretty excited to be racing for Williams. They're real racers. I've been with the team as a test driver for two years now so I know everꩲyone well. I've also been working in the factory itself this year with stints in composites, the wind tunnel and sub-assembly. I like the people and the atmosphere within the factory is really good. I'm now in a race seat and I'm really looking 🎀forward to next year.

Q:
What are your objectives for next season?

NH:
I just want to deliver consistently and do a good job for the team. I'd lꦫike to have some g💙ood races and score point.

Q:
What expectations are there from the team?

NH:
Of course they a𝕴re expecting something otherwise they wouldn't have put me in the car, but I think their expectations are realistic.

Q:
What steps will you♚ ta🌃ke to ensure you hit the ground running in F1?

NH:
I can't ensure anything; all I🐷 can do is work hard over the wi🥃nter. I'll take all of the tests that I get and I will use the simulator at Grove as much as I can. I'll prepare well with my engineers and then hit the track and go racing and see where we are in Bahrain.

Q:
When will you get your first run in the car?

NH:
I will test the 2010 FW32 when testing starts in February, but I will be doing twಌo of the young driver tests in December at Jerez.

Q:
Rubens Barri💫chello will be your team-mate for 2010, your thoughts?

NH:
It's completely positive from my perspective. As a rookie in F1, you couldn't ask for a better person to be your team-mate. It's a good c🧸ombination.

Q:
Do you think you can get the measure of Rubens next ye🦹ar?

NH:
It's difficult to judge at this stage. As there is a l💮imited amount of testing before the season starts, it will be difficult to get much track time in to prepare, but I hop💜e to be on his pace from the beginning. From there, I hope I will be able to match his speed and results and maybe even beat him at some point.

Q:
Is he the kind of team-mate you would prefer?

NH:
I don't really mind.❀ I just want the best team-mate I can get. Someone who is quick, experienced and a good driver, and that's what 𓄧I see in him.

Q:
Will you go to him for advice?

NH:
I ♉would be stupid not to! I think I can learn a lot from him and his experience, pa🐽rticularly by seeing how he works over a race weekend.

Q:
It's been five years since Williams' last victory in F1. From what yo𝓡u know so far of the new car, do you think the team can turn their fortunes aroundꦚ?

NH:
I certainly hope so. I'm in the factory a lot so I see how hard the guys work, but you never really know how quickly and effectively the other teams' develo🤪pment programmes are going until you get to the tr🐈ack. It's only then that we will be able to tell.

Q:
What are your t💧houghts on the team runnin💙g a Cosworth engine?

NH:
I think it's looking positive, but it's the same as the development of the car; you hav𒁏e to wait to judge until you get♎ out onto the circuit with the others.

Q:
How do you feel you've grown𒐪 as a driver following your year in GP2?

NH:
I think GP2 is a tough series. In your first year, you have to compete againstဣ drivers who might have beౠen in the championship for two or three seasons. They already have the experience of pit-stops and the circuits. That is difficult to compete against and we definitely found the opening races hard work. After a few races, though, we quickly settled into a good rhythm and started to work well together as a team which helped. That was all a good learning process for me.

Q:
Do you think there is more pressure on you because Willi Weber is your manager because he managed Mic🔯hael Schumacher in F1?

NH:
No, not at all. There's no pressure from Willi. I have a great relationship with h💮im and he's always supported me, both on and off the track. We work very well together anꦑd I hope it stays that way.

Q:
How do🐼 you feel about racing against the generation of young German drive🌜rs?

NH:
Six Germans is a lot, but there are quite a few Brazilians now as well. For me, though, at the end of the day, it doesn't m𒆙atter where someone is from when I'm racing against 🐬them.

Q:
Does the success of Brawn as an independent team give you hope that Williams will be able to take on the might🦩 of McLaren and Ferrari?

NH:
The hope is always there. Independent of what Brawn does, however, I know that♔ Williams can be successful.