Hulkenberg: F1 return hinges on 'exciting' offer
Nico Hulkenberg says that returning to Formula 1 remains his current career goal, but only with an opportunity that “excites” him and allows him to be competitive.


Hulkenberg lost his F1 seat at the end of last year after almost a decade on the grid when Renault opted to sign Esteban Ocon for the 2020 season to partner Daniel Ricciardo.
After missing out on seats at Haas and Alfa Romeo, Hulkenberg ruled out a return to Williams, leaving him without a drive for 2020.
Hulkenberg said that while he had enjoyed some disconnect from the sport over the winter and through pre-season testing, making an F1 comeback remained his primary goal.
“I’m very much up for it. That’s still my goal, my aim,” Hulkenberg said in an interview with CNN. “But at the moment it’s obviously really tricky to say. A lot of factors are in there, and everything is kind of upside down anyway.
“I’m staying in connection and in contact with people. It’s still kind of a bit early, but if there’s a chance, I will definitely grab it.
“If it’s a good opportunity and something that really excites me and gets me going, then definitely I will push for that.”
Read Also:
Hulkenberg scored his sole F1 pole position during his debut season with Williams in 2010, but failed to record a single podium finish across 177 starts - an F1 record.
A return to Williams for 2020 proved unappealing to Hulkenberg given the team’s lack of competitiveness, with the German saying last year he was “not the right driver” for the British outfit.
Hulkenberg said if he were to return, it would need to be with “a decent car that gives you a good opportunity to compete”.
“I’m not saying obviously for victory, but at least that something you could work with, a car and a weapon that allows you to at least go for a top 10,” Hulkenberg said.
“I miss it, working with your team, with your guys, beating the others, sometimes more than other times. It’s fun, and I do miss a lot of that.”

Russell: Williams must capitalise on rivals' early errors
F1 “waiting for details” as quarantine confirmed for UK arrivals

Latest news
The inevitable consequence of the Liberty F1 popularity boom
Sell out crowds at Formula 1 races are the norm rather than the exception these days, as grand prix racing is enjoying a massive boom under Liberty Media. But the Spanish Grand Prix highlighted numerous issues some circuits may face as demand for F1 soars
The danger for Red Bull in its Barcelona F1 team orders choice
OPINION: Red Bull walked into a team orders saga on its way to taking a Spanish Grand Prix 1-2 last weekend, where it took the lead of the 2022 Formula 1 world championships for the first time. But its decisions have added an element of risk to later races.
Why Mercedes' Spanish GP gains aren't as grand as they seemed
Mercedes' strong showing in last weekend's Spanish Grand Prix prompted team boss Toto Wolff to say it had halved its deficit to the leaders and its Formula 1 title chances were back on after a rocky start to the 2022 campaign. But a closer inspection of the team's performance suggests its gains aren't as grand as they first appeared
What's next for the Green Red Bull controversy?
From the 'pink Mercedes' to the 'Green Red Bull', the Silverstone-based team has received suspicious glares from up and down the Formula 1 paddock over its car design exploits. But after being cleared by the FIA over its Spanish Grand Prix updates amid a backdrop of cries of foul play, what's next in this saga?
Spanish Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2022
In an unusually hectic Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc was denied a dominant performance by his Ferrari engine letting go which allowed Max Verstappen to pick up the pieces. But numerous flashpoints kept the race twisting and turning throughout, with one perfect score from an emerging contender
How Verstappen overcame his and Red Bull’s errors to win in Spain
Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari engine disaster offered an open goal for Max Verstappen and Red Bull to strike, but the reigning Formula 1 world champion still had to solve multiple errors and profit from a begrudged assist from team-mate Sergio Perez, which created an unexpectedly eventful Spanish Grand Prix
Why Red Bull can win a Spanish GP that looked perfect for Ferrari
Formula 1's return to Spain on Friday ended with Ferrari leading the way from Mercedes, while Red Bull could only manage third fastest overall courtesy of Max Verstappen. But its chances of victory are far from remote with a deeper dig into the times despite Ferrari's strong start...
The key aspects of Porsche and Audi's planned F1 entries
The VW Group’s German superpowers of sportscar racing have all but confirmed they are coming to F1 when the next set of engine rules come into force in 2026. Here's why both manufacturers are all set to take the plunge, and crucially how it might work