---
title: "Hulkenberg hails ‘positive’ first morning of testing"
canonical: "https://readmotorsport.com/2018/02/26/hulkenberg-hails-positive-first-morning-testing/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Kyran Gibbons"
section: "F1 News"
published: "2018-02-26T13:49:25Z"
modified: "2018-02-26T15:34:19Z"
---

# Hulkenberg hails ‘positive’ first morning of testing

Renault’s Nico Hulkenberg has stated that his first impressions of the team’s 2018 Formula 1 car are ‘positive’ after the first morning of pre-season testing.

Hulkenberg achieved the highest mileage during the morning session, recording 73 laps in the RS18. He finished fourth on the timesheet, four tenths adrift of pace-setter Daniel Ricciardo at Red Bull.

Last season, Renault managed just 57 laps on the opening day and finished ninth on the timesheet.

“First impressions are positive to be honest, especially if you compare to 12 months ago, how the first morning went and how it did go today,” Hulkenberg told [Autosport](https://www.autosport.com/f1/live/2750912/barcelona-f1-test-day-one-2018) during the lunch-break at the Circuit de Catalunya.

“It’s a huge difference. We’ve made a lot of progress, the car ran really well.

“We got through every single detail of the programme, which is really unusual for the first day.”

In an effort to improve reliability over the winter, Renault has reportedly completed around 70,000km of testing on the dyno at the team’s Viry base.

Reliability takes on an increased importance in 2018, with three power units per car being permitted for use across the course of the season. It is believed that Renault has managed to successfully simulate this new regulation during this dyno testing.

Carlos Sainz Jr will take over from Hulkenberg to test the new car this afternoon and is likely to clear the 100 lap barrier for the team – a feat that it did not achieve on any of the four days of the first test last season.