Why Ferrari chose Kimi Raikkonen over Niko Hulkenberg in 2014

Nico Hulkenberg has admitted to being very close to becoming a Ferrari driver in 2014, replacing Felipe Massa, but his height would have convinced Ferrari not to go for him, choosing Kimi Raikkonen instead. In 2013, the German driver was one of the most sought-after in the paddock after a strong season with Sauber, finishing tenth in the drivers’ championship. However, that wasn’t enough to secure a seat at Maranello.

“It never happened that teams told me, ‘Sorry, we rejected you because you’re too tall,'” the current Haas driver told Motorsport.com. “They probably wouldn’t say it to my face.”

“But I’m pretty sure it hindered my opportunities to move to a top car. Space issues, less room, more weight. It’s not the ideal scenario in this field.”

After winning the GP2 championship in 2009 and securing a sensational pole position at Interlagos in 2010 in his first year with Williams in Formula 1, Hulkenberg spent two years at Force India before moving to Sauber in 2013.

That year marked one of the best of his career, earning 51 points and finishing the season in tenth place. These results drew the attention of top teams, including Ferrari, for a seat in the following championship.

“It doesn’t make sense to dwell on it or talk about it because it’s in the past. But I’m pretty sure I was close to signing with one of the most important teams,” the German continues.

At the end of 2013, Hulkenberg had a major career opportunity, as Ferrari announced it wouldn’t be retaining Felipe Massa alongside Fernando Alonso. He was one of the prime candidates, along with Kimi Raikkonen.

Show your support for Scuderia Ferrari with official merchandise collection! Click here to enter the F1 online Store and shop securely! And also get your F1 tickets for every race with VIP hospitality and unparalleled insider access. Click here for the best offers to support Charles and Carlos from the track!

However, his height likely played against him on that occasion. The German stands at 184 centimeters, a substantial 20 centimeters taller than Felipe Massa. Kimi Raikkonen, on the other hand, is only nine centimeters taller than the Brazilian. This factor might have tipped the scales in favor of the Finn, leaving Nico with the short end of the stick.

Ultimately, Nico Hulkenberg decided to return to Force India, staying until 2016, then moving to Renault until 2019. He then remained without a seat for the following season, working as a reserve driver for Racing Point and later Aston Martin. He returned to full-time racing this season thanks to a call from Haas.