Nico Hulkenberg has emerged as the surprise favourite to partner Kevin Magnussen at Haas in 2023, German media reports.

The American team is considering its options for the seat currently held by Mick Schumacher, though the German has shown signs of improvement as the year progresses after a difficult start to the season.

Even so, Hulkenberg is potentially in line for a first full-time Formula 1 seat since 2019, having also competed in four races since as a reserve driver at Racing Point/Aston Martin in 2020 and 2022.

Auto Motor und Sport cites his impressive stand-in performances, most recently in the opening two races of this year, as why Haas is considering the 35-year-old for another comeback.

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Also mentioned as potential Schumacher replacements are Antonio Giovinazzi, who will run in FP1 on Friday at Monza, and Daniel Ricciardo, although the Australian is considered a very outside option.

Asked about who he would prefer to see as his teammate in 2022, Magnussen was unfussed.

“It’s hard to say it doesn’t interest me, but I know my role in that process is non-existent,” he said last weekend in Zandvoort.

“All I can do is wait patiently to see who will be there. For myself, I hope we will still have someone good in the car next year.

“The focus is we score points and move up as a team so we can grow long term.”

And while Ricciardo might seem the best option on the driver market as an eight-time Grand Prix winner, the Dane admits the past few years have led to questions about the Australian's ability.

“I don’t know if he could make the team better, I’ve never raced against him,” said Magnussen.

“From the outside, he has always been someone I thought was extremely good, but it’s just very hard to judge in reality – how much of that was him being in a good car and how much of that was actually him.

“He obviously went up against Max [Verstappen] and did really well against Max and I’m pretty convinced Max is as good as he looks.

“Who knows? It’s not my job to think about these things.”