Red Bull: Marko revela casi fichaje de Hulkenberg para 2021

Según el asesor de Red Bull, Helmut Marko, Nico Hulkenberg estuvo a punto de ser el compañero de equipo de Max Verstappen en 2021.

Red Bull optó por Sergio Pérez, quien se unió al equipo en la temporada en la que Verstappen consiguió su primer campeonato, tras su destacada victoria en el Gran Premio de Sakhir 2020.

En ese momento, el equipo buscaba reemplazar a Alex Albon y había quedado impresionado por las apariciones de Hulkenberg como suplente debido al COVID-19.

At that moment, I believe [Hulkenberg] was a commentator on Servus TV, so there was already a relationship and conversations were starting.

Pérez’s victory in the penultimate race of the season changed the course of decisions. Pérez’s time at Red Bull lasted until last season, when he was replaced despite having achieved five victories for the team in four seasons. Hulkenberg returned to F1, 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 signing Hulkenberg instead of Pérez could have been a better result for Red Bull, as he has struggled to get consistent results with the other car.

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

Helmut Marko