Nico Hulkenberg 'pulled finger out' to arrest sharp F1 slump

Nico Hulkenberg has addressed his sudden turnaround in qualifying form, having struggled to match rookie team-mate Gabriel Bortoleto over one lap across the middle part of the F1 season.

The 37-year-old has outqualified the Brazilian at the past four rounds, but still trails 11-10 in their grid-setting head-to-head record.

As expected, Hulkenberg had the measure of Bortoleto across the opening weeks of the campaign, racing out to a 4-2 advantage by the time the paddock reached Europe.

However, a drop in one-lap pace, combined with improvements from his Stake team-mate, saw the 20-year-old pull ahead in that category.

By the time the F1 calendar left Europe, the latter was 11-6 ahead, but Hulkenberg has enjoyed the upper hand for the past four rounds, including the São Paulo Grand Prix.

Speaking to media, including RacingNews365, ahead of Bortoleto's home grand prix at Interlagos, Hulkenberg said: "Well, I just pulled my finger out... and got on with it," when discussing his turnaround in qualifying fortunes.

"I think sometimes you have a positive dynamic or momentum, and sometimes you don't have it.

"And obviously, there was this more difficult patch over the summer period. We just kept at it, kept working, kept grinding."

Now, looking at their outright fastest quali times, Bortoleto has just a 0.014-second advantage. The recent high point for Hulkenberg came at the United States Grand Prix.

The German qualified P4 for the sprint, but was cruelly taken out at the first corner. However, he would get his reward in the full-distance race instead, claiming eighth and four points, his first since a maiden F1 podium finish at the British Grand Prix.

He followed it up with a ninth-place finish over the weekend at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace.

Elaborating on his recent improvement, Hulkenberg added: "I think the feeling and the relationship with the car is probably a bit better now than in the summertime.

"And it's just probably a result of that process."