Nico Hulkenberg "keen not desperate" for F1 return

Aston Martin

Hulkenberg "keen not desperate" for F1 return

Hulkenberg has performed stand-in duties for Vettel

Ian Parkes & Ewan Gale

Tuesday 29 March 2022 17:21 Updated: 17:28

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Nico Hulkenberg has insisted he is "keen, not desperate" to return to F1 after his two substitute appearances to kick off the new season.

The German deputised for Aston Martin in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia with Sebastian Vettel recovering from Covid-19, taking his tally of stand-in events during the pandemic to five.

Hulkenberg has remained with the Silverstone-based team having been dropped by Renault at the end of 2019 and fulfils reserve and development roles within the team supporting Vettel and Lance Stroll but has not raced in any other categories in the meantime.

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"Of course I miss racing, that's natural but I'm keen, not desperate," he said after finishing 12th in Jeddah.

"If it's not to be... I was more or less mentally done with it, and obviously these things now, because of corona, did happen - 2020 and now, and who knows what might happen for the future.

"I see it being quite difficult and tricky to get a drive but if there's an opportunity, call me."

Hulkenberg has "had tougher races"

Hulkenberg's return was confirmed just a day before track action got underway in Bahrain, meaning little time for race-specific preparation.

Kevin Magnussen struggled with his neck in qualifying but asked if he had similar issues, Hulkenberg replied: "Maybe I'm fitter than expected or because it's not so hot but I've had tougher races, in the heat especially.

"Better than expected, so that was good, and I'm very happy and proud of my race. It was clean, faultless. I did everything I could with the car I had.

"Obviously, the early safety car really compromised my race so we lost out there, which is unfortunate. That's racing I guess.

"Although I've no idea where I would have finished without it."