Guenther Steiner did not expect Nico Hulkenberg's performance early in the season

Haas team boss Guenther Steiner recently spoke highly of Nico Hulkenberg and said he was surprised to see the driver perform so well right at the start of the season.

Though the German was only able to finish ahead of his teammate Kevin Magnussen in one out of five races this year, Steiner was still satisfied with Hulkenberg's performance.

Speaking on the F1 Nation podcast, Steiner lauded Nico Hulkenberg and how strong he was right from the start of the season. He expressed surprise at how quickly the German adapted to driving full-time for an F1 team once again.

However, the Haas team principal does not know whether Hulk has reached his peak in terms of performance or if he still has some more within him. He said:

"For Nico, coming back after three years as a part-time driver, he came back pretty strong. I expected him to be strong but I expected that form to come a little bit later. So I was quite surprised myself, and in the beginning, he was just strong."

"So I don't know, have he reached the peak or is there more coming? I mean, I would be happy if there is more coming, obviously but I think he's doing a good job."

Guenther Steiner went on to explain how Nico Hulkenberg has improved the overall atmosphere of the team. He said:

"And what he brings... he's bringing a good vibe to the team at the moment. You know, it's just like everybody likes to work with him. He's demanding, but always in a good way. You know, never demand something just for the sake of it; he always can explain why he wants something."

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Haas boss promises Nico Hulkenberg a bottle of beer or wine if he secures the first podium for the team

Haas team principal Guenther Steiner promised that he would give Nico Hulkenberg a bottle of beer or wine if he managed to secure the team's first podium in F1.

Steiner also stated that standing on the podium would be the best achievement of the German's career and would also be amazing for the American team. Speaking to NTV, he said:

“I’m not talking about driver contracts but he’ll definitely get something. I can be open about it – he won’t be angry. It will be more than a bottle of beer or wine. There’s always an incentive but’s not just a material thing for Nico."

"We all know he’s a very good Formula 1 driver but he’s never been on the podium. For him, that would also be a crowning achievement for his career. It would also be nice for Haas.”

Nico Hulkenberg is currently in 11th place with six points in his pocket. Though Kevin Magnussen has consistently finished above him, the Danish driver is down in 17th place with only two points.