Author: Barkha Roy
Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher and the fans are eager to see Nico Hulkenberg race for another team in Formula 1, apart from Haas. After returning to the sport with Haas this year, Hulkenberg proved that his speed is still intact, overshadowing his teammate Kevin Magnussen, especially in qualifying. However, Haas’ lack of race pace hurt Hulkenberg, resulting in just one points finish in 11 races.
In his column for Sky Germany, Schumacher said that any other cockpit would be more advantageous for Hulkenberg. He believes that other teams, such as Williams and Alpha Tauri, show more potential for success compared to Haas, which seems to be standing still.
Hulkenberg’s options for a new team may be limited. AlphaTauri already has its own group of drivers, Williams may give priority to Mick Schumacher due to his links with Mercedes, and Alfa Romeo Sauber is focusing on the future with the imminent arrival of Audi, which makes it less likely that Hulkenberg will be one of the main options. Furthermore, a return to Aston Martin, Alpine or McLaren seems unlikely due to their respective junior programs and ample reserve driver prospects.
Critics argue that Haas needs to improve the performance and development of its car in order to compete more competitively on Sundays. Although Hulkenberg is excellent in qualifying, his race performance is hampered by the limitations of the car, which leads to tire wear problems and frustrating results.
Haas team boss Gunther Steiner responded to Hulkenberg’s criticism by acknowledging the need for improvement and saying they were working on it. However, Ralf Schumacher and others feel that more significant demands should be made of the team to address the car’s shortcomings.
Despite the challenges at Haas, there are indications that Nico Hulkenberg is likely to receive a contract extension. Impressing with his performance since returning to Formula 1, Hulkenberg has caught the attention of the team and the fans. However, Ralf Schumacher and others suggest that Hulkenberg should explore other potential options in the sport, as there may be more promising opportunities elsewhere.
Nico Hulkenberg’s return to Formula 1 with Haas had mixed results due to the limitations of the car. Although their qualifying ability remains strong, the team’s race pace has hampered their chances of securing more points.