[PapaofGags]

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/hulke...i/3160843/

Nico Hulkenberg says he takes some pride in having "survived" for nearly a decade in Formula 1, despite the ever-growing threat posed by pay drivers.

The German, who once came close to a race seat with Ferrari, is highly regarded for his speed but has yet to take a podium in F1.

However, with Renault showing encouraging progress ahead of the arrival of Daniel Ricciardo in 2019, Hulkenberg has the best chance yet of getting that monkey off his back.


The Ferrari deal was real.

Hulkenberg came close to a breakthrough deal with Ferrari for 2014, as the Italian outfit weighed up a replacement for Felipe Massa.
But despite contracts having been drawn up, in the end Ferrari made a last-minute decision to sign Kimi Raikkonen as teammate to Fernando Alonso.
Looking back at that time, Hulkenberg admits that the Ferrari move had "seemed close" but says he does not waste time wondering what might have been.

“It seemed, you know, serious. It seemed close,” he said. “There were negotiations, there were contracts flowing about, being sent between lawyers, but it doesn't matter now.
"At the end it didn't happen, and yeah, the rest is history.”