Nico Hulkenberg will return to Force India in 2014 according to German publication Auto Motor und Sport, which claims the German has agreed a new deal with the Silverstone based team.
Hulkenberg had been touted to join Lotus next year – he even had a seat fitting this week – but with the much publicised Quantum money yet to materialise, the 26-year-old has understandably grown impatient.
The publication expects an announcement to be made in the coming days, confirming he has agreed a deal with Force India for 2014 plus options for further years, safeguarding his future should a seat elsewhere become available in 2015.
As to whom his team-mate will be is unclear. Adrian Sutil has strongly hinted that he will remain with Force India, but it’s believed team owner Vijay Mallya is considering other options which include current driver Paul di Resta and McLaren outcast Sergio Perez.
Di Resta’s future, if he’s not chosen, looks to lie outside of F1, potentially in Indycar where his cousin, Dario Franchitti, is a successful and well-known figure and recently announced his retirement.
The second Lotus seat looks very likely to go to Maldonado, yet that hangs on whether Quantum Motorsport is serious about its plans to buy a 35 per cent stake in the team – which team principal Eric Boullier is confident will happen.
Lotus are keen for the deal to proceed as in recent days the idea of employing Maldonado has soured following his United States outburst when he accused Williams of sabotaging his car.
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