Sir Jackie Stewart insists that rookie driver, Nico Hulkenberg, will not be without a drive for the foreseeable future after the German secured is inaugural pole position in Saturday’s qualifying session.
Stewart has said that the biggest worry over Hulkenberg’s future belongs to Williams as the 23-year old could now be snatched away from them by a more affluent team.
Speaking to Autosport, Sir Jackie, an ambassador to Williams sponsor RBS, said, “He is never going to be without a job. I think even already this year he has proved himself. He has made some mistakes but that is the same as any young puppy does. Puppies, you try to train them and you think you have got them trained and then they pee on the floor again. It is a process of doing that.
“My view of it is that we have got somebody who here in Brazil has demonstrated that he has got all the skills capable of doing the job.”
![Aston Martin managed its first race finish of 2026 with Fernando Alonso [behind] completing the distance](https://www.motorsportweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Aston-Martin-Honda-Japanese-GP-120x86.webp)
Patrick Head, co-owner of Williams, responded to Stewart’s comments and insisted that despite Nico’s form in Saturday’s qualifying session, the team feel no-more pressure to snap him up and that their decision is still yet to be made.
“As I have said very much before, we are not making any statement about that until after the season,” he said.
![Aston Martin managed its first race finish of 2026 with Fernando Alonso [behind] completing the distance](https://www.motorsportweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Aston-Martin-Honda-Japanese-GP-350x250.webp)
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