With just one spot left on the grid next season and races running out this year for him to pick up a now-trademark, last-minute ‘super sub’ appearance, have we seen the last of Nico Hülkenberg in Formula 1? Is a career that promised so much over without a single trophy after a decade of near-misses?
A blonde-haired, blue-eyed, baby-faced German entered the paddock for the 2010 Bahrain Grand Prix, seemingly with the world at his feet.
Having produced a prodigious junior career that could rival any of the top F1 talents, Hülkenberg was described by manager Willi Weber as “an unbelievable talent” that reminded him of his other long-term client – a certain seven-time world champion named Michael Schumacher.
The Hulk’s debut in Sakhir featured a spin whilst running in a promising position. His second race lasted just five corners as Kamui Kobayashi’s front wing failed, sending the Sauber into the barriers and subsequently the path of a helpless Hülkenberg.
And thus the tone was set for a career of mishaps and misfortune.
That is not to say there have not been special moments. There was a shock pole position in mixed conditions at Interlagos during his rookie season, and two years later he found himself fighting for victory at the same track. As would often prove to be the case, a combination of poor luck and judgment would put paid to his chances, though.
With the chaotic mixed conditions that Brazil so often provides present once again, Hülkenberg – along with Jenson Button – took the decision not to pit as rain started to fall. It proved to be the correct one and left the pair with a lead of over a minute and the German in first place. However, a safety car removed their safety net and, with just over 20 laps remaining, Lewis Hamilton passed Hülkenberg when he briefly lost control of his Force India.
Six laps later, Hülkenberg was back on the tail of the McLaren, but again lost control on the slippery surface and this time slid into Hamilton, taking the Briton out of the race and earning himself a drive-through penalty which would see him ultimately reach the chequered flag in fifth.
A first golden chance of a podium – if not a win – had slipped through his fingers, but surely there would be plenty more opportunities to come…
His single season at Sauber in 2013 was one of his best: dragging an uncompetitive car into points-paying positions and even keeping Hamilton behind him on his way to an impressive fourth place in Korea.
Then followed three years back at Force India with Sergio Pérez as his teammate. He was only narrowly outscored by the Mexican over that period, but Pérez managed to notch up four podiums to Hülkenberg’s zero. Whenever the chance of an unlikely result arose, he somehow contrived to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
In 2016 alone, a podium finish escaped him on four separate occasions: in Monaco, getting caught in traffic after his pit stop ruined what had been a legitimate third place; in Baku, he spun during qualifying when the Force India was truly competitive with Pérez earning a visit to the podium; in Austria, he qualified second but produced a poor start; and in Brazil, he picked up a puncture whilst running in what would have become a net third.
The trend continued in subsequent years. He would crash out of chaotic races such as Azerbaijan 2017 and Germany 2019 when in with a great shout of a top-three finish and, if he did keep it on the road as in Singapore 2017, lady luck would find some way to ensure that strategy and/or bad timing kept him off the podium.
Hülkenberg clearly has speed. He was the unofficial champion of ‘Formula 1.5‘ on two separate occasions, has earned three fourth places and nine fifth places, and his win at Le Mans shows that he has a winning mentality (and is not totally cursed). But, for whatever reason, it has never quite come together for him in F1.
As the old adage goes, you make your own luck and, in that sense, Hülkenberg is far from a master craftsman. Whilst he has certainly experienced more than his share of bad luck, he has also removed himself from numerous situations where he could finally have broken his duck and earned a place up on the rostrum.
“I won’t be the next Michael Schumacher or whatever. When I get to Formula One, if I do get there, I want to be the first Nico Hülkenberg.”
Hülkenberg claims to have missed out on a Ferrari seat “by an inch” and, according to Ross Brawn, was the next choice for Mercedes if Hamilton had not signed. If either of those timelines had come to pass, this would likely be a very different article. That is the fine line between success and failure in Formula 1.
On the initial Schumacher comparison, Hülkenberg said: “I won’t be the next Michael Schumacher or whatever. When I get to Formula One, if I do get there, I want to be the first Nico Hülkenberg.”
Whether or not he ever returns to the grid, he has certainly succeeded in that.
