Nico Hulkenberg's Formula 1 future is looking bleaker but admits he won't "just take anything" to stay on the grid.
In Belgium, it was confirmed that the German was leaving Renault, who have taken on Esteban Ocon for 2020, and on Thursday, Haas, his most likely option, announced they would be continuing with Romain Grosjean alongside Kevin Magnussen.
Speaking in Singapore though, the 10-year F1 veteran admits it wasn't a move he pushed for.
“I didn’t pursue that deal,” Hulkenberg told Crash.net. “We didn’t go ahead, we didn’t agree it, we didn’t get together with Haas, that’s the consequence out of that.
“Haas was definitely an option and we were talking, that’s definitely not a secret. We just didn’t get together, on this occasion we couldn’t agree to a deal."
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Now his most likely option in F1 is Alfa Romeo, replacing Antonio Giovinazzi, with seats at both Red Bull teams and Williams unrealistic prospects.
“Right now, I don’t know," he said of his next step. "I think it’s to an extent out of my control now, out of my hands. So the most important thing is to drive and to perform. I think we just need time.
“I think there are possibilities and a realistic chance, but in this game, you can never be too sure.”
Having spent the entirety of his F1 career in the midfield though, holding the unwanted record of most starts without a podium finish as a result, Hulkenberg does concede he wants a move that has benefits.
“As much as I want to continue in Formula 1, for me, it needs to make sense. It needs to be sensible, it needs to be the right deal,” he stated.
“I’m not desperate to stay in F1 and just take anything. I’m not disregarding or disrespecting Williams, I mean in general, globally, even with Haas now.
“That for me, that is the most important thing for me.”
Hulkenberg has proven his pedigree outside of F1 too, competing for Porsche in a one-off event at the 2015 Le Mans 24 Hours and winning alongside Nick Tandy and Earl Bamber.
