Nico Hulkenberg and Kimi Raikkonen Linked to Ferrari’s F1 Seat if Sebastian Vettel Quits Mid Season: Reports

2020 has not been kind to Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel. His premature axing by the Scuderia has been followed by some dismal performances. The car that he is driving hasn’t helped matters, leaving Vettel with only 10 points from the last five races. Not a predicament the 4-times world champion is used to being in. He will be getting a new chassis for the Spanish Grand Prix. But if Vettel cannot improve his performances, and is dropped midway through the season, reports reveal two interesting names to replace him at Scuderia.

The two drivers that could step up for a surprise drive at Ferrari are touted to be Nico Hulkenberg and Kimi Raikkonen. A report by Autobild states (translated by Google), “Not only Vettel’s future is the subject to speculation, but also his Ferrari present.

“In the paddock, two names are traded behind closed doors. Blitz comebacker Nico Hulkenberg and Alfa Romeo veteran Kimi Raikkonen. (They) are to step in if the German gives up prematurely – or has problems with the car in the next race.”

Vettel, for his part, seems confident of making it through the season. But with how Ferrari have treated him this year, would you really put a shock mid-season ax of the German beyond them?

Former world champion suggests that the struggles of Sebastian Vettel are solely linked to the SF1000

2016 world champion and Vettel’s fellow countryman Nico Rosberg has been in a fair few on-track battles with Seb. According to Rosberg, a driver of Vettel’s quality can’t be that far back, in terms of pace, when compared to teammate Charles Leclerc.

Rosberg said, “Sebastian Vettel is one of the best racing drivers in the world. It is not normal for him to lag behind his teammate for half a second. There must have been something with the car.”

At the moment, it certainly looks like Leclerc and Vettel are driving two very different machines. On one hand, Leclerc has already been on the podium twice. On the other hand, Vettel has struggled to even get into the top 10 at times. Can a change of chassis bring about a change of results for Vettel? We are all set to find out in this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix.