Hülkenberg "towards the top" of McLaren list for IndyCar seat

McLaren CEO Zak Brown has confirmed Nico Hülkenberg is towards the top of the list for a full-time IndyCar drive in 2023.

Hülkenberg tested for a day on Monday with Arrow McLaren SP, completing 108 laps at Barber Motorsports Park, and although slowest of the five drivers on track - which included 2012 champion Ryan Hunter-Reay - he made a strong impression on team president Taylor Kiel.

The former Williams, Force India, Sauber and Renault driver, who described the car as "very physical" and "a steering monster" after the test, "didn't put a wheel wrong all day", according to Kiel.

While Arrow McLaren SP will not be entering a third car into the series next season other than for the Indy 500, Hülkenberg is definitely in the reckoning for a drive in 2023.

Speaking before the test, Brown said: "IndyCar rewards aggressive drivers, and we consider Nico to be a guy who gets up on the wheel, as they say in America.

“We're very excited to see him, and I think he’ll enjoy it, like Fernando [Alonso], Romain [Grosjean] and Marcus Ericsson."

Confirming the team's plans for the future, Brown added: “We definitely won’t run a third full-time car this year.

"We will run a car in Indianapolis and we intend to run a car at some point later this year in anticipation of a full-time programme for the third car in 2023."

As to who the additional driver might be that season, Brown confirmed that "Nico is right towards the top of the list".

Brown has revealed he was introduced to Hülkenberg by McLaren team principal Andreas Seidl who recruited his fellow German for the 2015 Le Mans triumph with Porsche.

"He knows Nico, they've some good history," added Brown. “Andreas helps when and where he can if I need a favour and he definitely helped tee up Nico."

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