Marko called Hulkenberg on Friday: German almost drove for Red Bull this weekend
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Nico Hulkenberg was at the Eifel Grand Prix on behalf of Red Bull Racing. At the Nurburgring circuit on Friday, it was uncertain as to whether Alexander Albon would be able to compete for the rest of the weekend. Helmut Marko explained the situation.
"We were already talking to Hülkenberg on Friday," Marko reveals in the program at AvD Motorsport Magazine at Sport1. Albon's COVID test was inconclusive. "Alex had an uncertain, undefined test result. It could have been positive. Immediately after landing, I called Hulkenberg."
In the end, the test result turned out to be negative and Albon drove the car. The Red Bull didn't score any points because the 24-year-old British Thai retired after bits of gravel got into his radiator. The Honda engine couldn't be cooled properly anymore, so it had to be stopped as a precaution. Hulkenberg had a better Sunday afternoon. The German replaced the sick Lance Stroll at Racing Point and climbed up from last place to eighth.
Contact from Red Bull does not seem to get a follow-up
In the conversation Hulkenberg had, the Dutch-speaking driver also cautiously inquired about the chances of a 2021 seat at the Austrian race stable. However, Marko made it clear that Hulkenberg (for the time being) should not count on the seat next to Max Verstappen.