Hulkenberg unfazed by ‘team leader’ tag

Nico Hulkenberg is unfazed by the phrase ‘team leader’, saying the important thing is being the team-mate that comes out on top.

This season the 29-year-old is swapping Force India for Renault where he will partner Jolyon Palmer.

With a considerable difference in their levels of experience, 115 grands prix starts to Palmer’s 20, Hulkenberg is expected to take up the role of team leader.

The German, though, says he’s not hung up over that title.

“To be honest that’s not so important,” he told Racer.

“I think that’s something that gets emphasised by the media, to lead the team.

“What does it mean, to lead the team?

“You want to be in front, you want to beat your team-mate.

“If you lead or not, it doesn’t matter.”

He added: “It’s more important for me to help the team, to bring it forward, to develop it and then later on to develop for me.

“That also means I have to beat my team–mate whoever that will be, both this year and beyond.

“But I’m not too fussed about the leader thing – I’m going to do my job and whoever is next to me is not really that important to me.”