Formula 1: Nico Hulkenberg confirms he'll return in 2020 if he wants to

He isn’t sure with which team, but Nico Hulkenberg says that he has a race seat if he wants it for the 2020 Formula 1 season.

At the end of August, a few of the big dominoes pertaining to the 2020 Formula 1 Silly Season season fell when Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport confirmed their driver lineup for next year.

Lewis Hamilton was already under contract with the Brackley-based team through the 2020 season, but Valtteri Bottas was in his third consecutive contract year.

The Silver Arrows opted to retain the 30-year-old Finn for the fourth consecutive season as opposed to promoting reserve and test driver Esteban Ocon. As a result, Ocon ended up signing a two-year contract with Renault to replace Nico Hulkenberg.

Now Hulkenberg doesn’t have a ride.

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There were rumors that Hulkenberg would end up driving for Haas as the replacement for the struggling Romain Grosjean, but Haas confirmed earlier today that both Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen are set to return to the team for what is slated to be their fourth consecutive season as teammates next year.

In response to rumors that he could end up driving for the sport’s lone American team next year, Hulkenberg stated that there was nothing that had been signed. However, he also stated that if he wants another race seat for next year, he will get another race seat for next year.

Here is what Hulkenberg had to say about landing a ride for the 2020 season in an interview with N-TV.

"“There’s nothing signed currently, but my team and I are working on it. There is definitely interest and options that we are working on, there are negotiations and talks, but nothing concrete has been decided yet. But if I want, I’ll get another race seat.”"

With Haas having confirmed both Grosjean and Magnussen for the 2020 season, that leaves five of the 20 seats on the grid among four of the sport’s 10 teams without confirmed drivers for next year.

Aston Red Bull Racing have a seat open alongside Max Verstappen (currently occupied by Alexander Albon), Alfa Romeo Racing have a seat open alongside Kimi Raikkonen (currently occupied by Antonio Giovinazzi), ROKiT Williams Racing have a seat open alongside George Russell (currently occupied by Robert Kubica) and Scuderia Toro Rosso have both of their seats open (currently occupied by Pierre Gasly and Daniil Kvyat).

Red Bull Racing all but ruled out signing Hulkenberg for next year several months ago, although it remains a longshot given the uncertainty of the driver situation within the Milton Keynes-based team beyond the already contracted Verstappen. As for Alfa Romeo Racing, Hulkenberg drove for the team when they were still called Sauber in the 2013 season.

A Williams seat is the least desirable seat on the grid right now considering how far off the pace the team have been, but if it’s Williams or bust, the 32-year-old German may take the former.

Toro Rosso, meanwhile, have several options as far as who to sign, so while they are the most uncommitted team as it pertains to next season, the odds of Hulkenberg landing there aren’t all that great.

Next. Top 10 Formula 1 drivers of all-time. dark

Will Nico Hulkenberg return to Formula 1 for what would his 10th season next year? If so, will he drive for Red Bull Racing, Alfa Romeo Racing, Williams or Toro Rosso? If not, will he find another racing series in which to compete?

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Formula 1: Nico Hulkenberg confirms he’ll return in 2020 if he wants to

By Asher Fair | Sep 19, 2019

He isn’t sure with which team, but Nico Hulkenberg says that he has a race seat if he wants it for the 2020 Formula 1 season.