Hulkenberg has ‘options’

Nico Hulkenberg is “fairly confident” about his F1 future as rumours have the Sauber driver in the frame to replace Felipe Massa next season…

Nico Hulkenberg is “fairly confident” about his F1 future as rumours have the Sauber driver in the frame to replace Felipe Massa next season.

Earlier this week there was some movement in the driver market as the silly season finally yielded some concrete news as Red Bull confirmed that Daniel Ricciardo would be replacing Mark Webber.

That move brought an end to speculation that Kimi Raikkonen or even Fernando Alonso could be heading Red Bull Racing. However, it doesn’t mean all the big seats are confirmed.

As Massa’s future hangs in the balance, Hulkenberg has been linked to the Brazilian’s race-seat at Ferrari.

But for now, though, Hulkenberg admits that there is little in the making but a lot of potential.

“There are options out there,” the Sauber driver told ESPNF1

“There’s been some movement and there are some seats available. But I think it’s quite early in the season and I think nothing is really fixed or confirmed yet.”

The German, though, believes when it all pans out he will be with one of the F1’s better teams.

He added: “I’m fairly confident [of getting a good drive]. Having said that, you can never be 100 percent confident in Formula One – I learned that in my own skin in 2010

“From that point of view all I can do is to make sure I perform at my best level together with the car, keep doing a good job and then people will see that.”

Asked point blank if he could do a better job than Massa, Hulkenberg said: “Nasty question!

“It’s difficult to gauge from the outside. If you’re not inside the team and you can’t feel the car, it’s difficult to judge from the outside. I’m confident I can do a good job.”