react to it.
TP: You had a really strong year in 2014 with ten point-scoring positions and a number of top 5 finishes – Monaco in particular being a stand out. Did you see much of a change in yourself in terms of consistency in relation to previous years?
NH: I think for me personally, last year was my best year to date in Formula 1. I was very consistent without many errors. You always learn, you always progress. I’m not a perfect driver, so I’ll try to go one step better this year by maximizing what we have all the time every lap, every corner.
TP: The Pirelli rear tyre has a better footprint than it did last year, but in the past the tyres have marginalized good mid-field drivers. Do you think the last few years have masked talent?
NH: It’s the same for everyone. The guy’s at the front have a higher baseline which makes it easier, but with the Pirelli’s you have to manage quite a lot sometimes and drive within yourself, but that’s a different kind of challenge to adapt to that.
Everything is so marginal in terms of getting a good result. With a top car you can make a small error and still be at the front, whereas for us we have a smaller working window with no margin for error.
TP: One of the benefits of being in a mid-field team is having the opportunity to compete at Le Mans with Porsche. How important was running at Le Mans for you?
NH: It wasn’t important but it was a great opportunity that I’m looking forward to.
TP: The F1 season is so long now that there aren’t many opportunities for drivers to jump into different categories and something we really haven’t seen since the 1970’s. Le Mans is almost the entire F1 season in length, does it require special preparation form you?
NH: Not really. The first seven months of this year are very busy for me with a lot of travelling – including the Porsche test. I thought about it last year before I committed to it and wouldn’t have done so if I thought it would compromise me in any way.
I just see it as a great challenge and a great opportunity. The chance to race with the Porsche brand at the most prestigious race in the world doesn’t come across every day, so I grabbed it while I had it.
TP: How did you find driving the 919 Hybrid at night?
NH: I’ve done night time driving before. Actually it’s my preferred running time! It’s a different experience; being lost in the darkness a little bit. Somehow it was a special atmosphere that I really liked. It’s hard to describe, I was just comfortable.
TP: When Andre Lotterer jumped into the Caterham at Spa, he felt his Audi Quattro had more down-force, but what surprised you about the 919?
NH: With a four-wheel drive with traction control the amount of traction and grip you have out of slow corners is amazing. They beat every Formula One car. Because of that it’s a different driving style, but of course in the high speed corners F1 is still the ultimate.
TP: Did you have to recalibrate your brain to adjust to the high-speed down-force in a heavier car – despite the 919 being lighter this year?
NH: Not really… It’s just a matter of driving it and getting used to it. Usually I learn pretty quickly!