Analysis
Formula 1
Maldonado, Hulkenberg keys to 2014 'silly season'
Pastor Maldonado: "For sure they've been supporting me for a while but maybe they don't want to continue."
GMM
Edited: Nov 22, 2013, 8:07 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Nov.22 (GMM) Pastor Maldonado and Nico Hulkenberg remain the keys to the last phase of F1's 2014 'silly season'.
PDVSA-backed Maldonado, a Grand Prix winner, is the powerful 'pay driver' on the move, reportedly with EUR 40 million in tow and on the lookout for a new team after his Williams split.
It is believed that if Lotus' 'Quantum' investment deal falls through, locking the highly-rated Hulkenberg out, Maldonado is in pole position to replace Kimi Raikkonen in 2014.
But Maldonado muddied the waters at Interlagos on Thursday when he told reporters he might not be taking his PDVSA millions to his next team.
"For sure they've been supporting me for a while but maybe they don't want to continue," he said.
"Maybe yes, maybe not."
Maldonado, whose claims he is in the running even in PDVSA's absence raised eyebrows in the paddock, named Lotus but also Sauber and Force India as all "good options" for 2014.
Few, however, believe that, in a straight fight, teams would sign an uncensored Maldonado over Hulkenberg. Indeed, on Thursday, German Hulkenberg admitted there was a "danger" money matters would leave him without a seat in 2014.
Fernando Alonso, regarded by many as the best driver in F1, said it would be wrong if that happened.
"He (Hulkenberg) is one of the best guys in the field," the Spaniard is quoted by SID news agency, "and not just in the last few weeks.
"He really has a great talent," Alonso added.
TV pundit Eddie Jordan predicted weeks ago that Hulkenberg would eventually be signed by Force India. On Thursday, rumours that a two-year contract is now on the German's table did the rounds at Interlagos.
Hulkenberg, it seems, would not replace his countryman Adrian Sutil, as the German grinned broadly on Thursday when asked about his future.
Asked by Speed Week to rank his worries about 2014 between 1 and 10, Sutil answered: "Zero. I have no worries. I'm very calm."
It is Paul di Resta who is openly worried, and now more strongly linked with his newly-retired cousin Dario Franchitti's Ganassi seat in Indycar than a future in F1.
"I've openly said I would discuss it with Dario," the Scot is quoted by Britain's Sky. "I wouldn't rule anything out."
Force India deputy boss Bob Fernley said the Silverstone based team will not decide its 2014 driver lineup until December.
Further down the grid, Frenchman Charles Pic on Thursday admitted his future at Caterham is not assured. "I think there are still many seats available," he said.
The BBC reported that Swedish GP2 driver Marcus Ericsson could make his F1 debut for the green-coloured team in 2014.
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 With Interlagos ahead, Lotus's Kovalainen mystified by difficult afternoon in Austin
Next article Kovalainen responds to Briatore criticism
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
GMM
The season is still very long - Rosberg
Formula 1
Formula 1
The season is still very long - Rosberg
Jules Bianchi's father speaks of family's continued hopes
Formula 1
Formula 1
Jules Bianchi's father speaks of family's continued hopes
Sauber under no illusions about constructors' position
Formula 1
Formula 1
Chinese GP
Sauber under no illusions about constructors' position
More from
Paul di Resta
When Paul Di Resta beat Sebastian Vettel to the F3 title
F3
F3
When Paul Di Resta beat Sebastian Vettel to the F3 title
Paul Di Resta cautious about the WEC's future: "What's good never lasts forever"
WEC
WEC
Paul Di Resta cautious about the WEC's future: "What's good never lasts forever"
Why Peugeot swapped Jean-Eric Vergne for Stoffel Vandoorne in WEC 2026
WEC
WEC
Bahrain
Why Peugeot swapped Jean-Eric Vergne for Stoffel Vandoorne in WEC 2026
More from
Sauber
You Ask The Questions: Robert Kubica
Formula 1
You Ask The Questions: Robert Kubica
Lewis Hamilton 'almost signed for Sauber' before F1 debut, says Peter Sauber
Formula 1
Formula 1
Barcelona-Catalunya Pre-Season Testing
Lewis Hamilton 'almost signed for Sauber' before F1 debut, says Peter Sauber
F1 2025 season highlights: Fans crown Nico Hulkenberg's podium and Lando Norris's title as top moments
Formula 1
Formula 1
F1 2025 season highlights: Fans crown Nico Hulkenberg's podium and Lando Norris's title as top moments
Latest news
Franco Morbidelli on securing most coveted WSBK ride: 'Clearly Ducati has some trust in me'
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Japanese GP
3 min
Franco Morbidelli on securing most coveted WSBK ride: 'Clearly Ducati has some trust in me'
"Not allowed, not made possible": Was BMW denied its title chance?
DTM
DTM DTM
Hockenheim
52 min
"Not allowed, not made possible": Was BMW denied its title chance?
Max Verstappen: FAQ on his GTWC Europe debut
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1 1 h
Max Verstappen: FAQ on his GTWC Europe debut
Pedro Acosta: "I'm going to Ducati to learn from Marc Marquez, not to beat him on same bike"
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Indonesian GP
2 h
Pedro Acosta: "I'm going to Ducati to learn from Marc Marquez, not to beat him on same bike"
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