"As a Formula One driver you have to stand your ground every weekend"

Nico Hülkenberg hopes to secure a seat in Formula 1 next season. The driver has been out of top-level motorsport for a while now, but still thinks he has enough qualities to compete. If not, he will not return to Formula 1 for good.

The driver was close to returning to the sport last season. Since Alexander Albon was no longer Max Verstappen's teammate, Red Bull Racing was looking for a new driver for that position. The name of Hulkenberg was mentioned several times, but the Austrian team chose Sergio Pérez.

It was a big disappointment for Hülkenberg who is reserve and test driver for several teams this season. For now, however, he is no longer suffering from the high pressure in Formula 1. "Of course, the free time has made my life a bit more relaxed," he told Sport Bild.

"As a Formula One driver you have to stand your ground every weekend. You are analysed, you are permanently under the magnifying glass of the team and the engineers," Hülkenberg continued. "You only really become aware of the constant pressure when you're not there anymore. But it was good to have this distance because it gave me a chance to reflect on the last ten years."