Hulkenberg open to IndyCar move, staying relaxed over future

Nico Hulkenberg has confirmed he would be open to a move into IndyCar for 2020 after losing his place on the Formula 1 grid, but remains “pretty relaxed” about his future.

Hulkenberg is set to drop off the F1 grid next year after losing his drive at Renault to Esteban Ocon, and missing out on seats at both Haas and Alfa Romeo.

Williams holds the only remaining vacant seat in F1 for 2020, but Hulkenberg has already ruled out a return to his former team.

The German driver has long stated his intention not to rush into settling on a racing programme for next year, and said on Thursday that he had “not signed anything” and “won’t do in the foreseeable future.”

“I received several calls from different racing in series, teams, but nothing is really happening at the moment,” he added.

A report in the German press recently linked Hulkenberg with one of the vacant IndyCar seats at Ed Carpenter Racing for next year.

While Hulkenberg confirmed he would be open to entering the series, he stressed he was not looking to jump at the first opportunity that came along.

“I guess yes, on one side yes,” Hulkenberg said when asked if IndyCar was a consideration.

“To be honest, my state of mind is pretty relaxed. I want to finish the season as successfully as possible, and after that rewind a little bit, take a moment or two or three for myself, see what I want to do, see what seems of interest.

“I am certainly not having the feeling that I want to rush into something just to race. I am pretty relaxed about it.”

Hulkenberg has already ruled out a full-season programme in IndyCar as he does not want to race on ovals, but would still be eligible to share a seat with eponymous team owner Ed Carpenter in 2020, as Carpenter only races on ovals and not road or street courses.

Additional reporting by Julianne Cerasoli.