NICO Hulkenberg will be looking for a hat-trick of successive Formula 1 points finishes for Renault when competing in the Spanish Grand Prix at Barcelona tomorrow

The German driver followed up ninth place in Bahrain for the Enstone-based team with eighth at the Russian Grand Prix last time out.

And Hulkenberg is upbeat about the progress the team are making.

He said: “I was definitely happier with our race pace (in Russia).

“We have still got more work to do but we’ve clearly taken a step in the right direction.”

By contrast, teammate Jolyon Palmer is looking for his first points of theseason.

The Briton’s best finish is a pair of 13th places – and in his race in Russia he did not make it past the second corner, following a collision with Romain Grosjean, from the Banbury-based Haas team.

However, Palmer has had some success on the Catalunya track.

He said: “I had a double podium in 2014 with two second places in the GP2 Series with some good overtakes in two fun races there.

“It’s not been a circuit that’s been especially kind to me, but it’s a good challenge and one I enjoy.”

Palmer was replaced by Russian Sergey Sirotkin, in the first of yesterday two practice sessions, but he returned for the second.

There are no expectations of the Grove-based Williams’ team adding to their eight victories in Spain, the last of which was Pastor Maldonado’s in 2012.

Both Felipe Massa and Lance Stroll have been well off the pace this season.

Meanwhile, demand for tickets to Williams’s 40th anniversary celebration at Silverstone led to registrations having to close within a matter of days.

The free event on Friday, June 2, required fans to sign up, but the response has forced them to cap entries at 40,000.

Williams will run some of their iconic Formula 1 cars on the day, while drivers past and present are attending to discuss their experiences.