Ex-Formula 1 driver Mark Webber isn’t mourning the departure of Nico Hulkenberg from the grid too much.
The German competed in likely his final race in Abu Dhabi with Renault having lost his seat for 2020 to Esteban Ocon and failed to find an alternative.
Though many acknowledge his career is one that never reached its potential, in terms of what Hulkenberg can offer now at 32, the Australian believes the next generation are ahead.
“Well, I’ll sleep tonight,” Webber said bluntly of Nico’s exit to Channel 4.
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“I think he’s had a long career in Formula 1. He’s handy, you don’t have a long career like that in Formula 1 if you’re not delivering to a degree.
“But he has had 10 years, 176 races I believe [real figure is 177] that’s a fair run at it and there is always fresh blood coming through with different motivations, different deliverables, different appetite to learn simulators, new tech, all those sort of things.
“So you’re very much out to fodder pretty quickly in this game. He’s had a long career and I think it’s his time to move on.”
Hulkenberg is expected to take a year off racing in 2020 but has previously been linked to Formula E and IndyCar, at least the road course rounds.