Hulkenberg hopes to match Barrichello at Williams

By Alan Baldwin

LONDON (Reuters) - Formula One's newest recruit Nico Hulkenberg intends to be more than a match for Rubens Barrichello when they are team mates at Williams next year.

"I hope that I will be on his pace right from the beginning and that I can match his speed and results and maybe even beat him at some point," the 22-year-old German told reporters on Wednesday.

Hulkenberg, this year's GP2 champion and Williams reserve driver, has been promoted to the race seat in an all-new line up with 37-year-old Barrichello revitalised after helping Brawn to the constructors' title.

The Brazilian won twice this season, adding to the nine victories he took for Ferrari when he partnered seven times world champion Michael Schumacher, and is Formula One's most experienced driver.

Hulkenberg has the same manager as Schumacher, Willi Weber, and a reputation as a driver who -- like McLaren's 2008 champion Lewis Hamilton -- has won titles in every category he has entered.

A big supporter of the late Brazilian Ayrton Senna and Schumacher in his youth, Hulkenberg looked forward to racing alongside Barrichello.

"I just want the best team mate I can get, one who is quick and experienced and a good driver, and that's what I see in him," said the youngster, who could be one of six Germans on the 2010 starting grid.

"I think I would be stupid not to take advice from him or see how he works through a race weekend or a race. I can learn a lot from his experience and from him.

"I think it's pretty positive from my point of view, a guy with such experience is a good help for me, for a rookie in F1. It couldn't be much better than that," said the German.

"Plus, he's still quick and a good racer as we have seen this season, I think its a good package."

Some of Formula One's rookies had a hard time this season, with Spaniard Jaime Alguersuari and France's Romain Grosjean failing to score after being drafted in mid-season at Toro Rosso and Renault respectively.

Hulkenberg, whose Japanese predecessor Kazuki Nakajima also failed to score in 17 races, was not too concerned about his lack of mileage in the car.

"All I can do is take the testing I get and use the simulator as much as I can in the factory and that's it," he said.

"I'm pretty excited racing for Williams. I think they are real racers, I've been with them now for two years and I really like the people and the atmosphere in the team.

"Of course they expect something from me, otherwise they wouldn't have put me in the car. But they are not telling me I have to win next year or something like that."

(Editing by Alison Wildey; To query or comment on this story emailsportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)