Nico Hulkenberg says any potential deal to remain in Formula 1 “needs to make sense”, in the wake of him missing out on a prospective Haas seat.
On Thursday it was confirmed that Haas will retain Romain Grosjean alongside Kevin Magnussen, having acknowledged that Hulkenberg was a realistic candidate for 2020.
Hulkenberg has raced for Renault since 2017 but it was announced last month that he will be replaced by Esteban Ocon next year.
Aside from Red Bull and Toro Rosso – which is expected to keep its driver line-up in-house – only Alfa Romeo and Williams currently have openings for next year.
Alfa Romeo has Kimi Raikkonen under contract while Williams has George Russell signed on a multi-year deal, though the identities of their respective team-mates have not yet been determined.
“As much as I want to continue in Formula 1, for me, it needs to make sense,” said Hulkenberg.
“It needs to be sensible, it needs to be the right deal. I’m not desperate to stay in Formula 1 and just take anything.
“I’m not disregarding or disrespecting Williams, I mean in generally, globally, even with Haas now. That for me, that is the most important thing for me.
“I think you see and understand for yourself what is still available, which seats and which not. I think that’s pretty obvious. Right now, I don’t know. I think it’s to an extent out of my control now, out of my hands.
“So the most important is to drive and to perform. I think we just need time. I think there are possibilities and a realistic chance, but in this game, you can never be too sure.”
Haas indicated earlier on Thursday that it never seriously pursued Hulkenberg, but the German countered that viewpoint, explaining: “I didn’t pursue that deal, we go ahead, we didn’t agree it, we didn’t get together with Haas.
“Haas was definitely an option, and we were talking. That’s definitely not a secret. We just didn’t get together, on this occasion we couldn’t agree a deal.”
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