Force India will not block Nico Hulkenberg’s expected move to Renault for the 2017 season, according to reports.
The highly-rated German is thought to be on the verge of joining the French manufacturer, with an announcement imminent, after a total of four seasons at Force India.
A preliminary agreement between the two parties is already in place, and whilst Hulkenberg remains under contract, his current deal could be cancelled with the team’s approval.
Renault is looking to climb up the running order and eventually re-establish themselves as a race-winning outfit, the move could represent a chance for F1’s ‘nearly man’ to fight at the front of the field – an opportunity which Force India, it is understood, would not deny him.
“Nico has been too good a driver and too loyal over the years for the team to stand in his way,” a source told Motorsport.com.
“If a driver like Nico, who at 29-years-old, has a chance with a manufacturer that would set him up for life, why would a team get in the way of that?”
Should Hulkenberg make the switch, he would likely be partnered by Mercedes starlet and Manor driver Esteban Ocon in what would be a total revamp of Renault’s driver line-up.
That could well spell the end of Jolyon Palmer’s fledgeling F1 career, while Kevin Magnussen could be axed for the second time in three years.
Speaking to the press in Suzuka, Magnussen reaffirmed his desire to stay at Renault ‘for a long time’ but set a deadline of next Thursday for a decision to be made.
“We’ve had good dialogue, positive conversations,” the Dane said. “I know what the situation is, more or less. I’ve given them more time to get things sorted.
“That’s what I wanted to signal, to say I’m willing to wait. I’ve given them two weeks [from 6th October]. Hopefully, there will be a decision in those two weeks.
“I understand the situation. It’s very clear that I believe this team will go very far and I hope I can continue here for a long time.”
Only Mercedes, Red Bull, Ferrari and McLaren have confirmed their 2017 driver pairings.
