Considered as a driver that has never had the chance to fulfil his potential, Nico Hulkenberg reflected on his rollercoaster Formula 1 career including a near-move to Ferrari.
The German had been successful in every series he raced in during his junior career but once he hit the top with Williams in 2010, it was a case of needing his talent to shine brighter than money as Pastor Maldonado took over his seat for 2011.
A year as a reserve then saw a race seat come his way at Force India in 2012 and perhaps his nearest miss for a podium in Brazil, a race he led for a while before colliding with Lewis Hamilton.
Sauber beckoned the following year before returning to the Silverstone outfit in 2014 and now he has what many consider his final chance to succeed with Renault after switching in 2017.
"n a way that is an achievement, to still be here and have survived, I think it does say something about me and the driver I am," Hulkenberg, who turned 31 on Sunday told Motorsport.com.
"At the same time that sounds a bit sh*t also. And boring, you know? I want more. But we know that you need to have the right timing, you need to be in the right car in the right moment. That’s why I am here now. My career is not done.
"I have a very good team partner with Renault now, and obviously we have a target together and a vision, that we're fighting hard for and working for."
The problem now facing Nico is the pending arrival of Daniel Ricciardo in 2019, a driver many consider one of the finest on the grid and the man that will take over from the 'Hulk' in leading the French manufacturer in their bid to return to the top.
It could have all turned out so differently, however, as the most experienced driver without a podium finish to his name almost replaced Felipe Massa at Ferrari in 2014.
"It seemed, you know, serious. It seemed close," he remembers. "There were negotiations, there were contracts flowing about, being sent between lawyers, but it doesn't matter now.
"At the end it didn't happen, and yeah, the rest is history."
