Max Verstappen and Nico Hulkenberg link-up mooted after Haas ace pays Red Bull visit
Nico Hulkenberg was recently spotted entering Red Bull's HQ, mounting speculation over a link-up with Max Verstappen.
Max Verstappen could line up alongside Nico Hulkenberg at Le Mans, a Formula One reporter has claimed. Hulkenberg's name was recently linked with F1 champions Red Bull amid Sergio Perez’s inconsistent form, with Helmut Marko jokingly suggesting that he could be used for qualifying.
Perez suffered a worrying dip in performance before he finished second at the Belgian Grand Prix - where Hulkenberg was spotted paying Red Bull a visit.
Speculation mounted when veteran driver Hulkenberg was spotted entering Red Bull’s HQ. Technical advisor Marko added fuel to the fire when he said: “Let’s put it this way. We’ll get him (Hulkenberg) for qualifying, and then Perez will drive the race.”
However, it has been claimed that Hulkenberg could only join Verstappen in the 24 Hours of Le Mans ‘in a few years’. Speaking on the F1 Nation Podcast, journalist Erik van Haren teased a link-up between the pair.
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The Dutchman said that while the pair driving on the F1 grid for Red Bull seems unlikely, it would not be a surprise for them to enter the Le Mans race in the years to come. It is therefore safe to assume that Haas star Hulkenberg was not at Red Bull for talks over replacing Perez.
The 32-year-old, who initially seemed the likeliest driver to challenge Verstappen to the drivers’ championship, has struggled for consistency this year. Verstappen has twice fired shots at his team-mate’s poor form, especially his qualifying performances.
Red Bull chief Christian Horner was forced to defend the experienced driver. Horner insisted ahead of the Bulgarian Grand Prix a fortnight ago that Perez would soon find his form again.
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“The way he races… I mean, some of his moves in the race [at Silverstone], the one particularly on Carlos Sainz, was quite stunning into Stowe. If you look at his pace in the final stint, he was right there,” Horner said.
“It’s frustrating for him that he’s having to fight back all the time, but he’s just got to sort his qualifying out on Saturday and as a team we’ll do our best to support him on that.
“I think it’s just one of those things. As in sport, all sport, 90 per-cent of it is in the head and I think he just needs a good run, and he’ll find his momentum again.”
