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Sahara Force India and Nico Hulkenberg are enjoying a very good start to the 2014 Formula 1 season.

After four races, the Indian team lies third in the constructors' standings - ahead of the likes of McLaren and Ferrari.
Hulkenberg, who showed speed and consistency has scored points in every race so far and currently lies above reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel in the drivers' table.

Nico Hulkenberg, Sahara Force India (Photo: Sahara Force India)

“Nobody really expected that, but such a position doesn't come out of the blue: on some occasions we've over-performed and whenever there has been an opportunity we've grabbed it and we've made it happen”, Hulkenberg explained.

“We can explain why we are performing well, so it's a position that comes from our own merits. We have a good package, a strong engine partner, and we've made some good decisions and the right calls strategy-wise,” he added.

Mercedes power
Seven of the top ten drivers in the standings drive Mercedes-powered cars. Is it all about the engine? How good is the Sahara Force India VJM07?

“It's a very good car; otherwise we wouldn't be where we are. Sure, you need a good engine package - and no doubt the Mercedes engine was the best package in the first four races - but no, not everything is down to the engine. You also need a good enough car to make such results happen.

Hulkenberg continued his explanation. “We have a good platform with the car that we have and now we have to work on the details to make it faster. But there is no night-and-day upgrade that we will have here in Barcelona. Of course there will be some aerodynamic parts as, like always, it's about the downforce”.

Can Sahara Force India realistically fight against top teams like McLaren and Red Bull Racing?

“I would say that with the McLarens we pretty much should be able to compete throughout the season. With the Red Bulls we've seen a huge step forward from Bahrain to China already so it might be that they are in front of us already,” he replied.

“Red Bull is probably the team with the biggest resources and financial power, so it is really hard to keep up with them. Our main focus is more on the Williams, McLaren, Sauber and Lotus side. If we can beat these guys it's really good - and if we have a really good day or weekend and we can annoy the big ones, even better,” Hulkenberg concluded.

From GMM

Mercedes has played down the issue of team orders ahead of this weekend's Spanish grand prix.

After Bahrain, where Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg thrilled spectators with their unfettered wheel-to-wheel battle, it was suggested team chiefs were subsequently split over the issue of team orders.

It was reported that on one side of the debate was Niki Lauda, the team chairman, while colleagues Paddy Lowe and Toto Wolff want to ensure that Mercedes' dominance is not threatened by driver run-ins.

Indeed, triple world champion Lauda told the Mirror newspaper this week that Sebastian Vettel was right to answer "tough luck" when told by Red Bull in China to obey a team order.

"Yeah. Absolutely. That is a proper racing driver attitude," said the great Austrian.

"(Christian) Horner gave Vettel an order and he said 'screw you' so there is a difference between them and us.

"We don't give orders. Everyone saw in Bahrain, where they were told to watch the cars and we let them race. That is our philosophy," Lauda added.

Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg did the show in Bahrain, aboard their Mercedes W05. (Photo: WRi2)

However, it was believed that Wolff and Lowe do not fully agree with the notion of simply letting the drivers race freely.

But, ahead of Barcelona this weekend, Wolff has been quoted by Speed Week as saying: "Our strategy has not changed. Both (drivers) are allowed to drive freely.

"We do not want taxi driving," he insisted.

In the end, Mercedes could have bigger problems to worry about in Spain.

Improving rivals like Red Bull and Ferrari have had three weeks since China to close the gap to the dominant Brackley team, while many believe that - engine aside - reigning world champions Red Bull already have the best 2014 car.

"Barcelona will show how good our car really is," said Wolff, "because it is a type of Red Bull circuit.

"Ferrari was also impressive in China, and they have the 'in-house' advantage of being able to develop the power unit and the car under one roof.

"They can also count on Alonso, who is capable of incredible performances," Wolff added.

"I must say that we have not been sleeping (since China), but the chase is on. We are not afraid, but we have respect," he said.

If things go very well for Mercedes in Formula 1, the same cannot be said about the German car manufacturer in the DTM.

After a disastrous opening race this past weekend at Hockenheim, HWA AG supervisory board announced Thursday that their CEO and technical director, Gerhard Unger part ways with immediate affect.

At Hockenheim, the best-placed Mercedes in qualifying was the C-Coupé of Gary Paffett in 14th place. In the race, Pascal Wehrlein was the best Mercedes, finishing 11th, 53.8 seconds down to the winner after the 42-lap race.

Gerhard Ungar, Mercedes AMG. (Photo: DTM Media)

Gerhard Ungar arrived at HWA in December 1987 and he was the CEO of the company since September 2012.

Under his guidance, Mercedes clinched 170 wins in 364 ITC/DTM, including 10 drivers' and 9 manufacturers' titles.

Unger also held a leading position with the corresponding responsibility regarding the successful Formula 3 and the SLS AMG GT3 customer-sport projects.

For the time being, board member Ulrich Fritz will assume Gerhard Unger's previous tasks.

“With his successes, Gerhard Unger made a crucial contribution to the DTM involvement of Mercedes-Benz and definitely left a mark,” said Toto Wolf, Head of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport.

“In different leading technical positions, he created the preconditions enabling our brand to win 10 drivers' and nine manufacturers' titles, to date. An achievement we truly have to thank him for. Our DTM programme will be continued as scheduled, this year. Only after an extensive analysis of the current situation, a replacement for Gerhard Unger will be appointed.”

From GMM

Azerbaijan is taking Korea's full-time place on the F1 calendar, Bernie Ecclestone has confirmed.

It is expected a city street race in the capital Baku starting in 2015 will be announced later this month.

F1 chief executive Ecclestone this week indicated the oil-rich former Soviet race is taking the place on the calendar formerly occupied by South Korea, where a race at unpopular Yeongam was last held in 2013.

Korean organisers have baulked at the sport's high sanctioning fees.

Speaking this week to F1 business journalist Christian Sylt, Ecclestone said of the country: "I don't want to go back there."

"Baku has been signed. It will start in 2015 and will replace Korea," he told the Independent.

"They (Korea) did a good job with the track but what they forgot to do was build all the things they wanted to build," said Ecclestone, referring to facilities around the harbourside circuit.

Sylt claims that the Azerbaijan deal was brokered by Flavio Briatore, the ousted former Renault boss and close friend of Ecclestone.

"Briatore put the idea in the mind of the president of the country and that got things going," a source is quoted as saying.

Porsche will perform an extensive test of its 919 Hybrid LMP1s in Spain next week in an attempt to quickly solve transmission problems before the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The two 919s suffered from various technical problems during the recent 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, Round 2 of the FIA World Endurance Championship.

“The No. 20 Porsche (driven by Timo Bernhard, Brendon Hartley and Mark Webber) had problems with the rear dampers plus two failures of the front drive shaft. We knew this was a critical part and we are prepared to use stronger parts at the next test and in Le Mans,” said Alexander Hitzinger, Technical Director LMP1 at Porsche.

Hitzinger also told Autosport that the same problem hampered the 919s during the winter tests.

The German team will test the cars at Alcaniz, Spain next week, with the 919s probably fitted with new, stronger (thus heavier) components.

The Porsche 919 No 20 at Spa-Francorchamps. (Photo: WRi2)

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