Nico Hulkenberg: Red Bull, Alfa Romeo, Williams discuss interest in Renault driver

Nico Hulkenberg

Nico Hulkenberg: Red Bull, Alfa Romeo, Williams discuss interest in Renault driver

Where will he land?

Matthew Scott

Friday 20 September 2019 17:28

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Nico Hulkenberg's options for a 2020 race seat in Formula 1 have come under intense scrutiny, and the three bosses with seats to offer have all commented on the German's chances of joining them next year.

Red Bull, Toro Rosso, Alfa Romeo and Williams are the only teams yet to confirm their full driver line-ups next year.

Hulkenberg is the highest-profile free agent, with Esteban Ocon set to replace him at Renault next year, and Haas opting to stick with Romain Grosjean after holding talks with the German.

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Max Verstappen has been paired with three drivers inside a year, but they will not seek out the experience of Hulkenberg after going through Daniel Ricciardo, Pierre Gasly and now Alexander Albon.

"Nico isn't on our list," Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said. "He's a great driver and it would be a great shame not to see him continue in Formula 1 next year.

"He's a professional driver that arguably hasn't achieved his potential in Formula 1 and I very much hope for him that he does find a seat because he's better than some other drivers that are on the grid and he should be in Formula 1."

Alfa Romeo team boss Fred Vasseur worked with Hulkenberg in his successful junior career and recently said he did not need to talk to the German as he knows all there is to know already.

However, the Frenchman hinted that Antonio Giovinazzi will be given as much time as possible to prove himself alongside Kimi Raikkonen.

"We are focused with Antonio. Antonio had a very tough weekend in Spa but a strong recovery the week after in Monza," Vasseur said.

"We want to help him to develop and continue to improve. It will be time to discuss about the future but I am really focused on Antonio, that I think he is doing, step-by-step, a good job."

Finally, a return to Williams, where Hulkenberg debuted in F1, could be on the cards, although the driver hinted at a hesitance at joining F1's rock-bottom team.

"We have got some candidates on our list who we are considering at the moment, that we are talking to," deputy team principal Claire Williams said

"We are taking our time to deliberate on that, to make sure we make the right decision for 2020.

"It's not an easy predicament we are in at the moment when it comes to that second seat and our financial considerations, but that is not to say we couldn't potentially make a driver work if it doesn't come with backing.

"We do have options open to us. We haven't had any conversations with Nico Hulkenberg, but someone of Nico's competence or capability is always going to appeal to a team."