Nico Hülkenberg, undeniably a racing driver of pure talent and aggression, has not found a place of his own in motorsport in recent years. After the F1 season 2020 was canceled and there was hardly any start in 2021, all hopes on the driver market rested in the run-up to 2022.
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The German held talks with several midfield and lower midfield teams to find a starting place in 2022, but to no avail. None of the conversations led to a result, and once again Hulkenberg was overwhelmed by disappointment. As a result, the Aston Martin reserve driver finally gave up his fight for an F1 seat and broadened his vision.
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It’s IndyCar now! Hulkenberg completed 108 laps on Monday in his first Indy test with Arrow McLaren SP at Barber Motorsports Park. Yes, the former Renault driver set breathtaking lap times to almost put himself at the top of the list.
Now, however, there is another hurdle in the direction of Hülkenberg, this time from his F1 outcast Stoffel Vandoorne.
Vandoorne challenges Hulkenberg for McLaren IndyCar seat
Fed up with Formula 1, the Belgian is hoping for a full-time seat for each seat that ultimately ends in disappointment, much like Hulkenberg did.
Vandoorne has a solid reputation with McLaren, having driven for them between 2016 and 2018 and having had around 41 Grand Prix starts. His relationship with McLaren will likely make it difficult for Hulkenberg to secure the third seat at Indy in 2023.
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SPA, BELGIUM – AUGUST 24: Stoffel Vandoorne from Belgium and McLaren Honda walks in the paddock during the previews before the Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on August 24, 2017 in Spa, Belgium. (Photo by Dan Istitene / Getty Images)
“Sure we have (were interested in F1). And I think it also helps to have our family in the F1 paddock, ”McLaren SP President Taylor Kiel told RACER.
“So Stoffel obviously has some connections to the team and is actively involved as a substitute driver for the team. So that was kind of a given. I think we’ll try to do something with him. He’s certainly a talented racing driver. But we had people from all over the world. “
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Overall, Hülkenberg is looking for tough competition everywhere, but nobody can blame him. The German is fighting for one of the most valuable seats in Indy, and there will be a huge pull, not only from Formula 1 but also from other racing series. The only question left is who is going to grab this Indy drive?
View history: Biggest pit lane breakdowns with Hamilton, Raikkonen & Verstappen
The post Ex-McLaren F1 driver joins Hulkenberg in the race for the Arrow McLaren SP Indy Seat first appeared on monter-une-startup.
