Considered the Charles Leclerc of his time, Nico Hulkenberg jokingly called him a “lucky bastard” for his chance to race for Ferrari.
On Tuesday, the German’s exit from the Formula 1 grid was confirmed after Red Bull and Toro Rosso announced their 2020 drivers leaving only Williams with a seat up for grabs.
Hulkenberg though has already ruled out a return to where he started in F1 10 years ago, meaning a career that has always gone unfulfilled will stay unfulfilled.
“It doesn’t feel like unfinished business, because I’ve done my business,” he told Crash.net of his feelings about leaving the sport.
“I’ve performed well over the years, very consistently, many times when it was on the verge or other people didn’t get hired or get a job, I still was wanted and hired and paid to drive. That also speaks for some quality.
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“Of course I would like to have a different kind of record, more points and podiums and victories, but I know the reasons why, and why maybe things didn’t go that way.
“I’m at peace with myself there. I sleep well at night with my eyes closed. I’d love to continue racing, but if not, then life goes on.”
Hulkenberg did arrive in F1 much like Leclerc having won all the junior championships he raced in but, he could never find a seat to match the potential he had shown.
On the contrary, the Monegasque, thanks to coming through the Ferrari Academy, impressed in his rookie year with Sauber enough to land a seat at the Scuderia for just his second season.
“It makes me think lucky b*stard!” Nico replied thinking of the different paths he and Charles took.
Ironically, Hulkenberg was reportedly on the brink of signing for Ferrari back in 2014, instead, he would join Force India as the Italian team opted for Kimi Raikkonen instead.