Nico Hulkenberg admits that Haas' struggles with race pace are "tough to take" after slipping back from P5 to P15 in the Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix. The German impressed during Saturday's qualifying at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, setting the second fastest time in Q3 behind pole-sitter Max Verstappen. A three-place grid penalty for a red flag infringement dropped Hulkenberg down to fifth on the grid, but the Haas driver ultimately fell backwards from there during Sunday's race. "[It was] very different to [Saturday]," Hulkenberg told media, including RacingNews365.com , after the race. "But after [the Safety Car] also I think we were struggling for pace. [In terms of] tyre management or tyre deg, maybe not so much here, but it was more pace that I felt we were missing compared to some of our main competitors."
Haas need to think of 'long-term solution'
While he was briefly able to run near the front at the start of the race, Hulkenberg reflected: "You're just being bombarded and you're hanging on by your teeth. "It's not that fun. It is what it is." Haas have struggled to match their performances in qualifying on race days so far during 2023, and Hulkenberg believes that the squad need to focus on finding a long-term solution for the issue. "It's tough to take, especially during the moment," the 35-year-old explained. "But I think we have to think ahead longer term and think of the long-term solution for this. I think there's nothing really that we can do with set-up to fix this. "I think that it's a bigger issue, so we're very much aware of it." Haas currently sit eighth in the Constructors' Championship with eight points to their name.
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