Nico Hulkenberg’s Near Misses and F1 Career Pathways
Nico Hulkenberg’s Formula One career has seen several near misses that could have dramatically altered his trajectory. In a recent interview, the veteran driver revealed two significant opportunities he narrowly missed out on: joining Red Bull Racing in 2021 and securing a seat at Mercedes in 2013.Key TakeawaysNico Hulkenberg was nearly selected as Max Verstappen's teammate at Red Bull in 2021 but Sergio Perez ultimately got the job.Hulkenberg was also considered for a Mercedes seat in 2013 when Michael Schumacher retired, but Lewis Hamilton joined instead.The German driver has remained philosophical about these missed opportunities and continues to impress with his performance in the 2025 season.Red Bull's decision to sign Sergio Perez over Hulkenberg in 2021 was a pivotal moment. Helmut ...