Breaking news
Formula 1
Hulkenberg's speed should warrant indefinite F1 stay - Sainz
Carlos Sainz believes Nico Hulkenberg will stay in Formula 1 “if it was about speed and talent”, after Hulkenberg was dropped by Renault and snubbed by Haas for 2020.
Scott Mitchell
Edited: Sep 19, 2019, 1:29 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Hulkenberg will be replaced by Esteban Ocon at Renault after this season and was thought likely to move to Haas instead, but the American team has decided to keep Romain Grosjean instead.
That means Sainz’s ex-Renault teammate Hulkenberg is at risk of being forced out of F1.
Asked by Motorsport.com for his take on Hulkenberg’s situation, Sainz said: “I think everyone knows what Nico brings to the grid, I don’t think I need to explain myself much.
“But, as we know, in Formula 1, it’s not always the talent or what you’re capable of doing on track that is predominant.
“There’s a lot of things that can be taken into account, other than your talent and how quick you are.
“If it was speed and talent, he should be on the F1 grid until whenever he wants.”
Read Also:
Hulkenberg’s options of staying in F1 appear slim, with his best chance apparently to convince Alfa Romeo he is a better choice than inconsistent rookie Antonio Giovinazzi for 2020.
Haas team principal Gunther Steiner admitted on Thursday ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix that opting against offering a deal to Hulkenberg was a close call and felt the 32-year-old should be on the grid next season.
“I wouldn’t say he was happy, obviously,” said Steiner. “I think he has other options as well. I don’t need to know, he doesn’t have to tell me that.
“I just informed him we’d gone the other way. He’s a grown-up, he’s done this a long time, he’s been here before in this position.
“I hope he finds a cockpit and we’ve got him around next year in F1 because he deserves to be here.”
Sainz partnered Hulkenberg for just over one year at Renault, having moved there for the end of the 2017 season.
The Spaniard has since switched to McLaren, where a multi-year deal meant he was free from the uncertainty of this season’s driver market, which he admitted was “really nice”.
“I never felt my career in risk in Formula 1 honestly,” said Sainz. “Every year that I’ve been with an uncertain future, I was pretty much sure that I was going to get the drive because I was negotiating with other teams.
“It’s not nice, I think it’s always better for an athlete to be focused on whatever your job is that weekend and [not] look around in the paddock elsewhere.
“I think the performance is always better as a driver, athlete, if you focus on the race then be focusing on something else.”
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Kubica to leave Williams after 2019
Next article Hamilton hails Kubica's "remarkable" F1 comeback
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Scott Mitchell
Alfa Romeo must do better in "chaotic" races - Vasseur
Formula 1
Formula 1
Alfa Romeo must do better in "chaotic" races - Vasseur
Honda: Verstappen relationship 'like a young Senna'
Formula 1
Formula 1
Honda: Verstappen relationship 'like a young Senna'
Key team personnel shouldn't be F1 boss - Ferrari
Formula 1
Formula 1
Key team personnel shouldn't be F1 boss - Ferrari
More from
Carlos Sainz
Williams has better cooling vests than anyone – Alex Albon
Formula 1
Formula 1
Williams has better cooling vests than anyone – Alex Albon
Lewis Hamilton: Younger F1 drivers are “more and more cautious” about racing in rain
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Lewis Hamilton: Younger F1 drivers are “more and more cautious” about racing in rain
More from
Renault F1 Team
Does Daniel Ricciardo regret leaving Red Bull for Renault?
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
Does Daniel Ricciardo regret leaving Red Bull for Renault?
On this day: Fernando Alonso wins the world title, Michael Schumacher retires from F1
Formula 1
Formula 1
Brazilian GP
On this day: Fernando Alonso wins the world title, Michael Schumacher retires from F1
You Ask The Questions: Robert Kubica
Formula 1
You Ask The Questions: Robert Kubica
Latest news
Why Kalle Rovanpera and Ott Tanak are returning to the WRC
WRC
WRC WRC 1 min
Why Kalle Rovanpera and Ott Tanak are returning to the WRC
Marco Bezzecchi not throwing in the towel on MotoGP title fight
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Malaysian GP
51 min
Marco Bezzecchi not throwing in the towel on MotoGP title fight
Marco Antonelli: "I saw the champion in Kimi after his Australia crash"
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
1 h
Marco Antonelli: "I saw the champion in Kimi after his Australia crash"
Harvick: NASCAR may penalize Hocevar for 'dirtiest of dirty tricks'
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Martinsville II
1 h
Harvick: NASCAR may penalize Hocevar for 'dirtiest of dirty tricks'
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe