• Brazilian Grand Prix - Qualifying

Hulkenberg reminded of 2010 pole

Nico Hulkenberg started Q1 on intermediate tyres as the track dried © Press Association

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• Report:
• Hamilton leads McLaren front row, Vettel fourth and Alonso seventh
  

• Race:
• Brazilian Grand Prix

• Drivers:
• Nico Hülkenberg

• Teams:
• Racing Point

Nico Hulkenberg admitted that he was reminded of his 2010 pole position when starting qualifying in wet conditions ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix.

A rain shower left the circuit wet at the start of qualifying, but with it drying quickly and the threat of more rain many drivers took to the damp track on slick tyres. Hulkenberg actually ventured out on intermediates first but soon pit for slicks and went on to qualify in seventh place, being promoted to sixth when Pastor Maldonado received a ten place grid penalty as a result of his third reprimand of the season.

Hulkenberg said he the conditions invoked memories of 2010 when he took pole position for Williams on a drying track, and felt he had secured a grid slot that gave him a good opportunity in Sunday's race having set the car up for changeable conditions.

"It was an entertaining qualifying hour and it actually reminded me of 2010 with the rain shower just before the session," Hulkenberg said. "The track dried up quite quickly and the car felt good - we definitely improved it more between practice and qualifying.

"So seventh place [before Maldonado's penalty] is not too bad and is probably about what we were expecting. For tomorrow we are in good shape: I've got quite a neutral set-up so we can cope with whatever weather we get. It's always a tough race, quite physical, and there are some fast cars around us, but we should have the pace to race strongly."

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