Nico Hulkenberg a Hot Commodity in F1 after Strong Race at Silverstone
Nico Hulkenberg, riding high after a seventh-place finish while pinch-hitting for Racing Point's Sergio Perez during the Formula 1 doubleheader at Silverstone, now says that he is talks with two teams about a 2021 ride.
Hulkenberg, who substituted at short notice for Perez at Silverstone after Perez tested positive for COVID-19, will travel to Barcelona this weekend just in case the Racing Point regular again tests positive.
Hulkenberg, however, will not hang around all weekend if he doesn't need to, as he wants to race.
"I have to know earlier this time, because otherwise I would like to do a GT race at the Nurburgring this weekend," he told the Swiss newspaper Blick.
The 32-year-old driver lost his full-time place in F1 with Renault at the end of last year now admits that he would like to return to a full-time ride in 2021. He might just get his chance.
"I have offers from the teams where something is still open," Hulkenberg said.
The Swiss-German newspaper Blick is reporting those teams as Alfa Romeo and Haas. Hulkenberg confirmed the Alfa Romeo talks to F1's official website.
When asked if his performances at Silverstone had increased his hopes of a 2021 comeback, Hulkenberg told German media outlet Auto Motor und Sport, "Increased hopes would be an exaggeration. For some time now, I've been talking to two teams. I don't know if anything has changed now, but it doesn't feel like it.
"The people there know me and are not influenced by one race weekend. There is a chance, but it will take a while."
Hulkenberg finished seventh in last weekend's 70th Anniversary Grand Prix. The week prior, at the F1 British Grand Prix Hulkenberg qualified 13th but failed to make the start when his car would not fire. His seventh-place points put him 14th in this year's standings, one place behind Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel.
