Hülkenberg rejects Mercedes

Nico Hülkenberg is desperate to get back into Formula 1: „I’d love to work alongside Mick Schumacher, but I don’t like to be a test driver

Two weeks have passed since Nico Hülkenberg’s (33) Formula 1 intermezzo. And the German has tasted blood – fighting for his future in the premier class.

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„The important thing was simply to deliver a good performance when you have the chance,“ the Emmericher told AvD Motorsport Magazine on Sunday evening. „Planning for the future is then a process like that. I’ve been talking to a lot of people – since the beginning of the year. Silverstone hasn’t changed that. The process runs constantly in the background. The discussions are definitely positive, but there is nothing concrete to report yet. I think it will also take a few more weeks.

However, Hülkenberg rules out a role as a test driver at Mercedes, which Toto Wolff recently offered: „I personally don’t see myself in the role of reserve driver. I sat in the cockpit myself for ten years and stood at the traffic lights. Then accepting a step backwards without much chance of getting in makes little sense to me. That is not the path I want to take.

But the German also admitted that he had already been a topic of conversation at Mercedes in 2012 – as revealed after his lightning comeback by the current Formula 1 sports director and former Mercedes team boss Ross Brawn: „Yes, that’s right. When I read an article the other day with Ross Brawn’s statement, it came back to me, that was a few years ago. We were in pretty close contact then and it looked good, too. But then, unfortunately, Lewis intervened. That’s life.“

The German also confirms: Mercedes did not want to extend Michael Schumacher’s contract beyond 2021 anyway.

Hülkenberg is currently being discussed for 2021 with Alfa Romeo and Haas – two teams with which Mick Schumacher could also advance to Formula 1. Hülkenberg vs. Schumacher reloaded: Is that it? „Certainly!“, said the Rhinelander. „I think it’s only a matter of time anyway until Mick will appear in Formula 1. I’ve already raced against Michael and I’d like to do it together with Mick.

Translated with deepl.com (Free version)

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