Sainz and Vettel support Hulkenberg: "He deserves a place on the grid"
F1 News
Nico Hulkenberg might be forced to watch Formula 1 from the sidelines if he fails to find a seat. Esteban Ocon was announced as a Renault driver for next season in the build-up to the Belgium Grand Prix and will replace Hulkenberg. Nothing is certain about his whereabouts yet, but Carlos Sainz and Sebastian Vettel says it'll be a shame if the German has to leave the field.
Rumours suggest that Haas are interested in signing Hulkenberg and will replace the out of form Romain Grosjean. Team boss Guenther Steiner made it clear he was looking for experienced drivers.
The fact that the Dutch-speaking German has lost his seat at all with the Renault team is surprising, to say the least for some drivers. For example, the Italian Formula Passion reports that the former teammate of the Hulk at Renault, Carlos Sainz, is "surprised" by the situation.
“With his leadership, Nico meant a lot to Renault. It has brought them where they are now compared to the start in 2016," says Sainz. The other side of the situation is actually not so surprising for the Spaniard: "Ocon and Renault have always been a good relationship and it was clear that the cooperation would sooner or later still happen."
Not only Carlos Sainz but also Sebastian Vettel stands up for his countryman.
"Nico does not deserve to be pushed aside," says the four-time world champion. “Of course I don't know the situation and the background. I sincerely hope that he can find a seat for next season because a driver of his calibre deserves to stay in F1."