Hulkenberg Almost Signed for Red Bull in 2021: Marko Reveals Details

Nico Hulkenberg was close to being Max Verstappen’s teammate in 2021, according to Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko. Red Bull signed Sergio Pérez for what turned out to be the season of Verstappen’s first championship, following his outstanding victory at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix. The team was looking at that time to replace Alex Albon and had been impressed by Hulkenberg’s appearances that season as a “super-sub” due to Covid-19.

At that moment [Hulkenberg] was, I believe, a co-commentator on Servus TV, so there was already a relationship there, and there were the beginnings of conversations.

Helmut Marko

Marko explained that Pérez’s victory in the penultimate race of the season changed everything.

Pérez’s time at Red Bull lasted until last season, when he was fired amid increasingly poor results, although he achieved five victories for the team in four seasons.

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Hulkenberg finally returned to F1 after some time away, first with Haas and then with Sauber this season. Hulkenberg, who has a good relationship with four-time champion Verstappen, achieved a first podium finish at the British Grand Prix. Marko suggested that signing Hulkenberg instead of Pérez could have been a better result for Red Bull, as he has struggled to find 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 bank for points, and in our car it would also have been in the top positions.

Helmut Marko