Red Bull: Marko reveals almost signing Hulkenberg for 2021

According to Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko, Nico Hulkenberg was close to being Max Verstappen’s teammate in 2021. Red Bull opted for Sergio Pérez for the season in which Verstappen won his first championship, after his outstanding victory at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix. At that time, the team was looking to replace Alex Albon and had been impressed by Hulkenberg’s substitute appearances due to COVID-19.

Pérez won that race in Bahrain, and that’s why everything changed in Pérez’s favor.

Helmut Marko

Pérez’s time at Red Bull lasted until last season, where he was replaced amid irregular results, although he achieved five victories for the team in four seasons.

Hulkenberg returned to F1 after some time away, first with Haas and then with Sauber this season. Hulkenberg, who maintains a good relationship with Verstappen, achieved his first podium at the British Grand Prix. Marko suggested that hiring Hulkenberg instead of Pérez could have been a better result for Red Bull, as he has struggled to obtain consistent results in the other car.

I think it would have been a really nice moment, because the two of them get along very well, and yes, Hulkenberg is a safe bet for points, and in our car he would also have been in high positions.

Helmut Marko