Prost: Hulkenberg too 'negative' for Renault
Renault ousted Nico Hulkenberg because he is too "pessimistic" and "negative".
That is the claim of Renault advisor and F1 legend Alain Prost, as he explained why the French works team has instead signed up fellow Frenchman Esteban Ocon for 2020.
German Hulkenberg, linked with moves to Alfa Romeo or Haas, is currently looking for a new home for next year.
"We don't want pessimistic drivers, which is why we opted for Ocon," Prost told Sky Italia.
"He (Ocon) is very motivated after being out for a year. Nico is quite negative, but he's also right about certain things. But we have to look forward and a driver's negativity doesn't work for us, especially in a difficult season."
Prost agrees with Hulkenberg that the Renault chassis needs to be improved, but he calls the team's 2019 engine "excellent".
However, he admits that 2020 could be another difficult year for Renault.
"I'll be honest, due to the change in regulations in 2021, it makes no sense that we continue to develop a lot. We hope to have a high level in 2021," said Prost.
"We will have to invest a lot in the development of a good car to be in front again," he added.
✅ Check out more posts with related topics:
Prost should really look at the performance of the team... Nico has proven himself so many times...To call someone negative, coming from him.. its just ridiculous...
Good decision. The Hulk has been in F1 a long time now and expectations are lower than ever for future performances, his new to the team teammate is ahead on points and that's with even more retirements to his name.
Time for Ocon to shine
Ocon used to be on my exclusive five favourite drivers list. At that time Verstappen was on the list too. Both are now off, one for having had no seat and the other for having suffered apotheosis.
Now that Ocon is being used as a ramrod to assail Huelkenberg I am unlikely to reinstate him.
Hulk is one of the most useless creatives walking the earth- time for him to move out of F1 and into E- driving!
✅ Checkout the latest 50 F1 Fans comments.