Max Verstappen is pushing Red Bull to sign Nico Hulkenberg as his teammate for 2021, according to a German media report.
The Racing Point reserve driver has been confirmed as one of the options to replace Alex Albon, should Red Bull decide the Thai driver has not met the necessary level.
And, given their friendship, F1-Insider.com claims Verstappen is very eager to have Hulkenberg alongside him next year, believing he will offer perfect support against the two Mercedes’ in a championship bid.
Just last weekend in Portugal, the Dutchman talked up Nico, though would admit he had little bearing on if he was chosen to join Red Bull next year.
“I don’t make the decision,” he told Ziggo Sport. “Of course they [Red Bull] ask for my opinion, but in the end, it doesn’t matter to me [who gets the seat]. We wait for it.”
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Meanwhile, Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko also played down the relationship between Max and the Hulk.
“In 2020 it didn’t work out, but in 2021 we want to finally make the attack on Mercedes and make Max the world champion, even if he can’t become the youngest champion anymore,” he said.
“We also ask Max for his opinion on the driver question. We know his opinion too.
“But whether a driver can speak Dutch (as Hulkenberg can) is not decisive because the team language is English.”
As for Hulkenberg himself, he is remaining calm on his 2021 prospects.
“We’re still figuring that out to be honest, I don’t know the answer to that question,” he told ESPN on what he’ll be doing.
“As we know there are teams very much in control and in the process of making their choices. Obviously, my name is linked with a few teams so it’s waiting to see what they feel and what they want to do.
“I’m not too stressed about it. I delivered this year when I had the chance this year, that’s the one thing if you’re not fully doing a season it’s kind of difficult, you’re not that visible and people tend to forget quickly.
“They always just tend to just remember the last race. Not so easy to make an impression so it so I was very happy to be able to receive some races and perform well, I think I did what I had to do and now it’s up to them.”
At the same time, however, Albon is refusing to give up his seat just yet.
“I know I’ve got to get the job done, there’s no secret in this sport, but the way I approach it is the same as I would on a normal weekend,” he said ahead of the Emilia Romagna GP.
“I don’t care what the media has to say. I’m focused on the relationship between me and the team and the lap time in the car.
“There’s nothing else going to change my lap time by looking at my phone. I focus on the stuff that matters.”