Pastor Maldonado and Nico Hulkenberg remain the keys to the last phase of F1’s 2014 ‘silly season’.<\/p>\n
PDVSA-backed Maldonado, a grand prix winner, is the powerful ‘pay driver’ on the move, reportedly with EUR 40 million in tow and on the lookout for a new team after his Williams split.<\/p>\n
It is believed that if Lotus’ ‘Quantum’ investment deal falls through, locking the highly-rated Hulkenberg out, Maldonado is in pole position to replace Kimi Raikkonen in 2014.<\/p>\n
But Maldonado muddied the waters at Interlagos on Thursday when he told reporters he might not be taking his PDVSA millions to his next team.<\/p>\n
“For sure they’ve been supporting me for a while but maybe they don’t want to continue,” he said.<\/p>\n
“Maybe yes, maybe not.”<\/p>\n
Maldonado, whose claims he is in the running even in PDVSA’s absence raised eyebrows in the paddock, named Lotus but also Sauber and Force India as all “good options” for 2014.<\/p>\n
Few, however, believe that, in a straight fight, teams would sign an unsponsored Maldonado over Hulkenberg.\u00a0 Indeed, on Thursday, German Hulkenberg admitted there was a “danger” money matters would leave him without a seat in 2014.<\/p>\n
Fernando Alonso, regarded by many as the best driver in F1, said it would be wrong if that happened.<\/p>\n
“He (Hulkenberg) is one of the best guys in the field,” the Spaniard is quoted by SID news agency, “and not just in the last few weeks.<\/p>\n
“He really has a great talent,” Alonso added.<\/p>\n
TV pundit Eddie Jordan predicted weeks ago that Hulkenberg would eventually be signed by Force India.\u00a0 On Thursday, rumours that a two-year contract is now on the German’s table did the rounds at Interlagos.<\/p>\n
Hulkenberg, it seems, would not replace his countryman Adrian Sutil, as the German grinned broadly on Thursday when asked about his future.<\/p>\n
Asked by Speed Week to rank his worries about 2014 between 1 and 10, Sutil answered: “Zero.\u00a0 I have no worries.\u00a0 I’m very calm.”<\/p>\n
It is Paul di Resta who is openly worried, and now more strongly linked with his newly-retired cousin Dario Franchitti’s Ganassi seat in Indycar than a future in F1.<\/p>\n
“I’ve openly said I would discuss it with Dario,” the Scot is quoted by Britain’s Sky.\u00a0 “I wouldn’t rule anything out.”<\/p>\n
Force India deputy boss Bob Fernley said the Silverstone based team will not decide its 2014 driver lineup until December.<\/p>\n
Further down the grid, Frenchman Charles Pic on Thursday admitted his future at Caterham is not assured.\u00a0 “I think there are still many seats available,” he said.<\/p>\n
The BBC reported that Swedish GP2 driver Marcus Ericsson could make his F1 debut for the green-coloured team in 2014.<\/p>\n
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