Apr.26 (GMM) Rookie Nico Hulkenberg has joined Williams team bosses in raving about the form of F1's most experienced driver Rubens Barrichello.

At the end of a miserable 2008 season with Honda, the veteran Brazilian seemed destined to bow out of F1 on a low.

But the team instead reinvented itself as Brawn, where Barrichello out-performed his teammate and eventual champion Jenson Button in the second half of 2009.

Barrichello, 37, has moved to Williams this year and so far has shown the way to his highly rated young teammate Hulkenberg, the reigning champion of GP2.

"How he drives the car just eight tenths slower than the front is puzzling," the 22-year-old German told Auto Motor und Sport.

"And then when the car is really difficult, Rubens puts in a lap that really makes me wonder how he does it," added Hulkenberg.

However, he sees the situation as a positive one.

"He is an experienced driver who last year won races in a winning car. If I'm with him in qualifying and beating him in the races, it will be a success," said Hulkenberg.

But if it takes some more time to catch up to Barrichello, Hulkenberg said he is not worried.

"It is a learning year and part of the development process," he insisted.

Latest F1 News - Mobile version

26 Feb: New Ferrari not quickest in field - Domenicali 26 Feb: Red Bull still best in 2013 - Tost 26 Feb: 2014 French grand prix 'possible' - Prost 26 Feb: Danica Patrick 'not interested' in F1 switch 26 Feb: Report - Gilles Simon working on F1 engine for Honda 26 Feb: Gutierrez plays down link to Carlos Slim 26 Feb: Caterham exhaust 'legal' insists van der Garde 26 Feb: McLaren replaces Mercedes-bound Lowe 25 Feb: 'Engine maps' trouble for Red Bull, Lotus - report 25 Feb: Mercedes-bound Lowe to miss 2013 opener - report 25 Feb: Mercedes 'in group of teams' behind Red Bull - Lauda 25 Feb: Gutierrez expects Hulkenberg to beat him early in 2013 25 Feb: New Ferrari 'much better' than 2012 - Massa 25 Feb: Teams 'will adapt' to new tyre situation - Gutierrez 25 Feb: Tight rules make today's F1 cars 'the same' - Forghieri 25 Feb: Williams removes controversial exhaust trick 25 Feb: Contract 'conflicts' cause of Marussia test snub - Razia 25 Feb: Lotus to fight Red Bull for title - Gutierrez 25 Feb: Marussia 'ahead of Caterham' - Chilton 25 Feb: Sutil will not stay in F1 as test driver The latest F1 News - Mobile Version