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Hulkenberg will stay in F1 - Stewart

ESPNF1 Staff
November 9, 2010 « Ghosn insists Renault committed to Formula One | »
Nico Hulkenberg's future is safe according to Sir Jackie Stewart © Getty Images
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Sir Jackie Stewart thinks there is no chance of Nico Hulkenberg finding himself without a drive next season.

Despite Hulkenberg achieving his maiden pole position in Brazil, his Williams team team is reportedly considering replacing him with Venezuelan pay-driver Pastor Maldonado. But triple world champion Stewart, who was in the Williams garage when Hulkenberg captured pole at Interlagos in his role with sponsor RBS, doesn't think so.

"I would be very surprised if he is not taken," he told GP Week. "The biggest chance he has now is of being grabbed by a more affluent team, not the risk of not having a drive. He is never going to be without a job."

Indeed, there are signs now that Williams intends to keep Hulkenberg. In an official press release, technical boss Sam Michael described his performance in Brazil as "exceptional". And in a news report posted on the Williams website on Monday, team founder and principal Sir Frank Williams used the same word to describe Hulkenberg's latest performances.

Meanwhile, Maldonado has been scheduled for three days of post-season testing with HRT, the back-of-the-grid team that recently became a buyer of Williams' gearbox for 2011.

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