Nico Hulkenberg: “I don’t feel I’m retiring as a race driver”

Nico Hulkenberg has said that he doesn’t “feel I’m retiring as a race driver” despite being replaced at Renault by Esteban Ocon and not having a Formula 1 seat or plans for the 2020 season yet.

Hulkenberg entered F1 back in 2010 for Williams, becoming test driver for Sahara Force India for 2011 before returning full time to the grid in 2012 but now heads into his final race with Renault at Abu Dhabi before departing without anything to go to.
 
It will be the German’s 177th start of his career, of which he hasn’t scored a podium finish but he doesn’t look back with regret on his career.

“No regrets,” he said to Autosport.

“Of course I’ve done mistakes, like we all do sometimes that I would have liked to avoid, a few moves or things I’d do differently now, but that’s always easy to say with hindsight.

“So all-in-all, I’m at peace with what I’ve achieved and I don’t feel I’m retiring as a race driver.

“I don’t feel I am leaving F1, I might not be on the grid, but if there’s an opportunity I’m going to be ready.”

Although the 32-year old has had options for 2020 coming from Formula E, IndyCar and possible reserve roles in F1 he hasn’t signed onto anything as of yet.

“I haven’t signed anything, and I won’t do for the foreseeable future,” he added.

“I received calls from different, let’s say racing series, teams, but nothing is really happening at the moment.

“To be honest, my state of mind is quite relaxed.

“I will finish the season anyways and I want to be as successful as possible and then after that, I want to rewind a little, take a moment for myself or two or three, and see what I want to do, what seems of interest.

“I’m certainly not having the feeling that I want to rush into something, just to race, so I am pretty relaxed.

“I feel a decade of F1 is intense, living at that high-pace, so that’s why I just need to see when the new year starts, how I feel and how things develop and evolve and in which direction.

“Honestly, at the moment, I just don’t know.”