{"id":5735,"date":"2018-08-05T16:04:40","date_gmt":"2018-08-05T20:04:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/?p=5735"},"modified":"2018-08-06T22:21:40","modified_gmt":"2018-08-07T02:21:40","slug":"what-does-daniel-ricciardos-move-mean-for-nico-hulkenberg","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/motorsports\/2018\/08\/05\/what-does-daniel-ricciardos-move-mean-for-nico-hulkenberg\/","title":{"rendered":"What does Daniel Ricciardo’s Move Mean For Nico Hulkenberg?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nico Hulkenberg<\/strong> has become \u201cthe nearly man\u201d<\/em> of Formula 1<\/strong> in recent seasons. The German, popularly known as \u201cthe Hulk\u201d<\/em>, has been considered for top drives, but has not been able to seal the deal. Hulkenberg\u2019s move to the Renault Sport F1<\/strong> team in 2017 was based on future potential of the team rather than current record.<\/p>\n

What does Daniel Ricciardo’s Move Mean For Nico Hulkenberg?<\/h1>\n

The Renault team has improved and has been on an upward trajectory since 2017. But the podium finish Hulkenberg has been looking for has eluded him so far.<\/p>\n

Nico Hulkenberg\u2019s Formula 1 Career<\/h2>\n

In 2010, Hulkenberg debuted in F1 with the Williams<\/strong> team and a 14th<\/sup> place finish in the drivers\u2019 championship was the end result. Four full seasons at Force India<\/strong> (2012, 2014-2016) did not yield a single podium. Hulkenberg had two ninth-place finishes, a 10th<\/sup> and 11th<\/sup> place finish in the drivers\u2019 championship to show for it.<\/p>\n

In 2013, a short sojourn to Sauber in the hopes of better prospects had dashed his hopes. A 10th<\/sup> place finish in the championship with a declining team was all that was possible.<\/p>\n

Hulkenberg\u2019s move from Force India to Renault<\/strong> in 2017 was inevitable. Force India with its limited resources was punching above its weight. But it was a team far away from a race win, let alone winning any titles. There seemed to be no opening at the top 3 teams – Mercedes<\/strong>, Ferrari and Red Bull Racing<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Hulkenberg had been seriously considered for a drive by Ferrari<\/strong> as Felipe Massa<\/strong>\u2019s replacement, before they signed Kimi Raikkonen<\/strong> in 2014. The Maranello<\/strong>-based team rather cruelly broke the news of the end of contract talks to Hulkenberg with a text message.<\/p>\n

The Renault Move<\/h2>\n

In 2016, Renault had returned to the sport by buying back the Lotus F1<\/strong> team (formerly owned by the French manufacturer until 2010). In 2017, Renault was looking for a team leader to help them chart their way back to winning ways in F1. Hulkenberg was the best driver available on the market. For the German, driving for a works team willing to put in the resources to move themselves up the ladder was more attractive than driving for a perennial midfield team like Force India.<\/p>\n

In his first season at Renault, Hulkenberg finished 10th<\/sup> in the drivers\u2019 championship and finished P6 four times in 20 races. It must have felt like d\u00e9j\u00e0 vu<\/em> for the talented German. But it was always about future potential at Renault.<\/p>\n

The 2018 season has brought improved results for Renault. The team is fourth in the constructors\u2019 championship and leads the tightly bunched midfield teams. Hulkenberg is in seventh-place in the drivers\u2019 championship, \u201cthe best of the rest\u201d<\/strong> behind the six drivers of the top 3 teams.<\/p>\n

The Elusive Podium<\/h2>\n

Hulkenberg has the distinction of winning the Le Mans 24 Hour<\/strong> race in 2015. He had already achieved what Fernando Alonso<\/strong><\/a> has famously done in this 2018 season. But even a podium has eluded him in F1. The affable German holds the unenviable record of having the most starts without being on the podium even once in Grand Prix races (147 starts so far).<\/p>\n

Hulkenberg\u2019s best finish has been three P4 finishes in seven full seasons in F1. Flashes of speed and brilliance in qualification have always been Hulkenberg\u2019s hallmark. In shambolic races, when drivers have taken advantage and won or clinched podiums, luck has eluded him.<\/p>\n

At Force India, Hulkenberg\u2019s teammate Sergio Perez<\/strong> clinched four podium finishes in the three seasons they were together (2014-2016). But a fourth-place finish at the Belgian GP<\/strong> in 2016 was the best result for Hulkenberg in those seasons. So the quest for the first podium and race win continues.<\/p>\n

Daniel Ricciardo as Teammate in 2019<\/h2>\n
\n

We are delighted to announce that @danielricciardo<\/a> will join @RenaultSportF1<\/a> as race driver from 2019. Full report \ud83d\udc49 https:\/\/t.co\/9LUkd22abr<\/a>#RSspirit<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/OIXUbjIoRm<\/a><\/p>\n

— BWT Alpine Formula One Team (@AlpineF1Team) August 3, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n