Hulkenberg Has Told Red Bull ‘He’s Available’ As He Looks For F1 Return

This comes amid calls for Red Bull to replace Albon, who has struggled this season.

Helmut Marko, head of Red Bull’s driver development program, has said that Nico Hulkenberg has been in touch with the constructor to tell them “he’s available” and is interested in returning to F1.

“He let us know that he’s available,” Marko said in an interview with Motosport-total.com.

Earlier this month, he publicly said he was impressed with Hulkenberg managing to qualify his Racing Point car in P3 for the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix while filling in for Sergio Perez, who had contracted COVID-19.

However, Marko has since said he gave the German the compliment because of “sporting fairness” and dismissed claims it means he could soon replace Alex Albon at Red Bull.

“That doesn’t mean he’ll be in the car with us.

“If everybody comes to us about whom I say he drove a great race, we would have a team of ten cars.

“If one of them shows a good performance and you acknowledge this, it doesn’t mean that he’ll get a contract with us because of it,” Marko said.

READ: Marko On Ricciardo-Red Bull Reunion: ‘Ways Back Can Always Be Found’

Earlier this week, the Austrian said Albon’s seat at Red Bull would be safe so long as he continues to develop as a driver.

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So, it seems Albon has a bit more time to get closer to Max Verstappen before they start seriously considering a change in driver line-up.

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