Ex-Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher has said he thinks Red Bull Racing should replace Alex Albon with Nico Hulkenberg, as he believes doing so would ensure Max Verstappen has a strong number two driver in the second RB16.
“Max Verstappen was once again the lone fighter against the two Silver Arrows. For Red Bull this is not a sustainable condition in the long run and now even Lewis Hamilton is saying what everyone sees and thinks,” Schumacher wrote in his column for Sky Sport Austria, pointing to Hamilton’s recent comments about Albon.
READ: Marko Defends Albon, Says He ‘Looked Stupid’ at Spanish GP Because of Engineer
Continuing, he said, “I think that Dr [Helmut] Marko and the whole team is also aware that this is a problem. If I were Dr Marko, I would call Nico Hulkenberg and get him in the car.”
Schumacher described Hulkenberg as being on the same level of ex-Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo and said he could help develop the team.
“He could be a great asset to the team. Marko would then have a second stable driver, who also has experience, who could help develop the team,”
Hulkenberg lost his seat at Renault at the end of the 2019 season and failed to secure an F1 drive for 2020.
However, he stood in for Sergio Perez at Racing Point for two Grand Prix this season after the Mexican contracted COVID-19, and impressed many people in the paddock with a strong performance at Silverstone.
Meanwhile, Alex Albon has had a lacklustre season and has failed to come close to teammate Max Verstappen ever since he joined Red Bull last year.
There has been some speculation that AlphaTauri driver Pierre Gasly, who was demoted to the sister team in the middle of the 2019 season, could be promoted to Red Bull once again to replace Albon.
However, following the Belgian Grand Prix, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said they have “no intention” of switching the two drivers around.
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