Nico Hulkenberg Pays Tribute to his Partner of 13 Years

Nico Hulkenberg has confirmed that vehicle inspection company Dekra will no longer continue to sponsor him. Hulkenberg has been working with Dekra for 13 years, with the company following him as he switched between F1 teams.

Dekra was also a prominent partner of seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher throughout his lucrative F1 career.  On social media, Hulkenberg wrote: “End of an era with a great Partner! Thank you for 13 memorable years together.”

Dekra is also an official technical partner of DTM and is also a series sponsor of various racing formats, including the DTM, the FIA Formula 3 European Championship, the ADAC Formula 4.

The Stuttgart-based company is also active in other sports, and is the official partner of the football referees of the German Football Association. It is also present in tennis, working as a premium sponsorship partner of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix.

Hulkenberg’s 2019 season will be his third with Renault. He will be joined at the French manufacturer by Daniel Ricciardo, with the two set to unveil their upcoming challenger on February 12th.

Hulkenberg is only the second driver this season to lose a major sponsor. The other one was Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas, who lost his sponsor Wihuri. Fortunately, the loss of Dekra will not affect his career in any adverse way.

Coming to the 2019 season, Renault have said that they will be planning an attack very soon. With Hulkenberg and Ricciardo in their lineup, things will be very interesting indeed.

Looking back on last season, Budkowski admits it was disappointing not to get closer to the top trio, but thinks that could motivate everyone at Renault to do it in 2019.

“There is a bit of disappointment at not being able to get closer to the top three, but that drives us to change things in the way we operate,” he continued.