Ralf Schumacher Names Le Mans Winner as Ideal Max Verstappen Teammate

Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher revealed his surprise pick to partner Max Verstappen at Red Bull.

Ralf Schumacher Names Le Mans Winner as Ideal Max Verstappen Teammate

Ralf Schumacher and Max Verstappen (images via IMAGO)

Max Verstappen has been the sole torch bearer at Red Bull Racing for years now. No teammate has come close to the Dutch driver at Milton Keynes since Daniel Ricciardo‘s exit in 2019. This season is no different with Verstappen bringing home the majority of points for the Austrian team. Now, former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher has named his pick to partner the reigning world champion.

Red Bull took a gamble earlier this year by replacing Sergio Perez with Liam Lawson. This went horribly with the Kiwi driver being swapped with Yuki Tsunoda after just two races. Unfortunately, Tsunoda has not been close to Max Verstappen either. The Japanese driver continues to struggle to make it to the top 10. This has raised concerns over Milton Keynes’ position in the teams’ standings.

Ralf Schumacher was quick to pick Nico Hulkenberg as the ideal teammate for Max Verstappen at Red Bull. The German reckoned that his fellow countryman had good relations with the Red Bull star, easing such a move. Moreover, Schumacher pointed out that Hulkenberg had done a decent job for Sauber so far this year.

[Nico Hulkenberg] would look good at his [Max Verstappen’s] side. They get along and Nico started well in Hinwil. You can also see it from the results, we cross our fingers.

Ralf Schumacher told Sky Germany

This is not the first time Nico Hulkenberg is linked to Red Bull. The former Le Mans winner was in talks with Milton Keynes for a move as early as 2021, but things never materialized. Since then, Hulkenberg has proved his worth as a consistent driver in F1 during his time at Haas and now Sauber. The German might hold the unwanted record for the most number of races without a podium, but he has consistency on his side.

Nico Hulkenberg might fix Red Bull’s Max Verstappen problem

Red Bull has failed to have both its drivers fighting consistently at the front. No driver apart from Max Verstappen has seemed comfortable with its cars for the better half of over a decade. This is a grave concern for Milton Keynes as no change in development has helped reduce this issue.

Nico Hulkenerg
Nico Hulkenerg (image via Sauber)

Ralf Schumacher pointed out that Nico Hulkenberg is one of the most experienced drivers on the grid. The former F1 driver insisted that his feedback must be one of the best right now, particularly in Sauber’s recent history. Hulkenberg has spent his entire career in the midfield, be it Force India or Renault. Thus, the 37-year-old will be more than willing to work tirelessly at Red Bull.

I don’t want to offend anyone, but  I can imagine that Nico’s feedback is the best that Sauber has had in recent years. He learned from experience, he has always been in teams where there was a lot of work to do: he was not in Mercedes, for example, where the car was perfect and the driver just had to drive.

Ralf Schumacher explained

Certainly, Nico Hulkenberg’s experience could be critical for Red Bull. The German driver will be able to say what he wants from the car to extract his best and potentially be close to Max Verstappen. However, the Austrian team has shown no interest in the Le Mans winner just yet. Fans will need to wait and see whether Hulkenberg comes on Milton Keynes’ radar for next season.

Read More: Nico Rosberg Warns Lando Norris of ‘Really Dark Place’ Amid Oscar Piastri Clash