Nico Hulkenberg: Smaller F1 teams must get creative to earn points

Hulkenberg's performance in the season opener in Bahrain showcased his strong qualifying form from the previous year, with a 10th place grid position. 

However, he faced challenges during the race, dropping to 16th due to a poor start and a collision with Lance Stroll at Turn 1 that damaged his front wing.

The German driver's fortunes turned in Saudi Arabia, where he executed a strategic masterstroke by not pitting during a safety car period triggered by Stroll's crash. 

This decision, coupled with teammate Kevin Magnussen's assistance in holding off pursuing cars, allowed Hulkenberg to climb from 15th to secure a valuable point with a 10th place finish.

"I think in races like this race [in Saudi] when, currently we have the top five teams, if they stay in the race, that's the top 10 taken," he said.

"So, I always feel you have to do something unorthodox and something not so [logical] or what seems like common sense.

"You have to obviously push your luck a little bit and do something different, offset yourself and, like in the past, that has often paid off."