Former Williams driver Sergey Sirotkin doubts Renault has made the right call replacing Nico Hulkenberg with Esteban Ocon for 2020.
After Mercedes decided not to promote the Frenchman into the seat of Valtteri Bottas, a two-year deal was made to see Ocon return to the Enstone-based squad, where he and Sirotkin were development drivers in 2016.
That came at the expense of Hulkenberg, however, who now finds himself off the Formula 1 grid for the first time since 2011, at the Russian feels his ousting was a mistake.
“I do not like to talk about specific drivers, but I think Nico performed at a very high level and gave a lot to the team,” Sirotkin told Russia’s Championat.
“Will Ocon be better? I doubt it.”
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Still, Hulkenberg is already enjoying life after F1, having recently snapped himself at Rio’s famous Carnaval.
“This time off is still good for me,” he said, recently speaking to Germany’s t-online.
“It’s only February, so far it has been the normal course of events with winter break and then tests. It doesn’t feel that different yet.
“I feel comfortable in my skin and am excited to follow the Formula 1 season from this different perspective.”
Looking forward though, Hulkenberg isn’t ruling out an F1 return for 2021 but admits: “Quite simply it has to feel good, it has to fit and there has to be a sporting perspective.
“It would make little sense for me to drive for a team with no real chances, that is out of the question for me. It has to be a racing team that has potential.”
And as for possible alternatives, the 32-year-old admits Formula E could hold some interest.
“It has developed extremely strongly in recent years,” he said. “Insane what they have achieved, what status they have also achieved.
“All German premium manufacturers are represented there. In any case, that would also be an interesting option.”