SPA FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium - Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg believes he is ready for a move to one of Formula 1's major teams.
The confident young German made this clear on Thursday (Aug 22) when, on the eve of this weekend's Belgian GP, he said he did not think Kimi Raikkonen was the key to the driver market.
Hulkenberg admitted that Raikkonen, currently with Lotus, was an important element in the way the future unfolds, but added that he felt he could secure a seat with Sauber, Lotus or even Ferrari.
ATTRACTIVE OPTION
Hulkenberg said: "Anything can happen but I'm sure I don't have to wait for Kimi to decide what I am doing. Kimi is playing a role there but it is not necessarily depending all on him."
He acknowledged that Ferrari would be an extremely attractive option for him if the Italian team chose to drop Brazilian Felipe Massa. "It's a good team, one of the top teams, and if you get the chance you will probably do it but at this point we are still looking at the options for what we can do, where to position ourselves."
He added that he would prefer to resolve his own future within September. "There is always what you want and what is happening and they are sometimes not the same. I want to make a decision when I feel I have made the right choice and when I am happy with everything involving the deal.
"We would ideally like to have it done by the end of September."
Stay with Wheels24 for the 2013 Belgian GP weekend.
The confident young German made this clear on Thursday (Aug 22) when, on the eve of this weekend's Belgian GP, he said he did not think Kimi Raikkonen was the key to the driver market.
Hulkenberg admitted that Raikkonen, currently with Lotus, was an important element in the way the future unfolds, but added that he felt he could secure a seat with Sauber, Lotus or even Ferrari.
ATTRACTIVE OPTION
Hulkenberg said: "Anything can happen but I'm sure I don't have to wait for Kimi to decide what I am doing. Kimi is playing a role there but it is not necessarily depending all on him."
He acknowledged that Ferrari would be an extremely attractive option for him if the Italian team chose to drop Brazilian Felipe Massa. "It's a good team, one of the top teams, and if you get the chance you will probably do it but at this point we are still looking at the options for what we can do, where to position ourselves."
He added that he would prefer to resolve his own future within September. "There is always what you want and what is happening and they are sometimes not the same. I want to make a decision when I feel I have made the right choice and when I am happy with everything involving the deal.
"We would ideally like to have it done by the end of September."
Stay with Wheels24 for the 2013 Belgian GP weekend.