Nico Hulkenberg has joked that he will cry if he watches Red Bull this season, given how competitive their RB16B is.
The German driver had been tipped to be in contention for a 2021 seat at the team last year after a number of exceptional stand-in performances at Racing Point.
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However, Red Bull ultimately decided to sign Sergio Perez as Alex Albon’s replacement, leaving Hulkenberg without a seat on the F1 grid.
Commenting on Red Bull’s impressive start to the 2021 season, Hulkenberg said:
“I’d better not watch Red Bull because then I will cry.
“I don’t think about it. I’ve been in talks with the team throughout the second half of last year.
“The last few races, that period when Perez started to do really well, that victory in Bahrain, then it was over.”
Despite him not having a full-time seat on the F1 grid, there is a chance Hulkenberg could race in the pinnacle of motorsport this year, as he was recently confirmed as Aston Martin’s reserve driver, while also having a deal with Mercedes to potentially stand in for their drivers at a handful of grand prix this year.
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“I’m more of the test driver for Aston Martin. Mercedes is only a small job, for a few races,” Hulkenberg said.
“Stoffel Vandoorne and Nyck de Vries also drive in Formula E and the WEC, so they are not available a few times a year. For those races, I’m the man if something happens,” he explained.
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