Nico Hulkenberg says he has no option but to play a “patient game” with his future in Formula 1 still 🌱uncertain beyond the end of the 2⛄019 season.

The German has been left without a drive for 2020 after Renault signed Mercedes junior Esteban Ocon to partner D🥂aniel Ricciardo next year.

Hulkenberg’s options of extending his spell in F1 are becoming increasingly limited after he was rule🔜d out of contention for a possibl✅e Red Bull drive, while Haas opted to retain Romain Grosjean alongside Kevin Magnussen for a fourth straight season.

It leaves Alfa Romeo as Hulkenberg🍸’s most 🔜realistic option of staying on the F1 grid, though Ferrari has a major influence on who gets the second seat at the team to partner Kimi Raikkonen.

Scuderia junior Antonio Giovinazzi’s future has not been decided but a recent turnaround in form has boosted his chances of remaining at the Swiss squad for a seco𝕴nd successive campaign.

A seat remains free at Williams after Robert Kubica announc﷽ed he will leave the team at the end of 2019, though it is underꦡstood that Formula 2 frontrunner Nicholas Latifi will replace the departing Pole.

Speaking in the FIA d🐻rivers’ press conference ahead of this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix, Hulkenberg said: “There’s no news.

“So it’s a little bit more of a patient game, have to wait and se🌺e a bit﷽ longer.”

Asked about the prospec♊t of him not 🐷racing at all in 2020, Hulkenberg replied: “I guess there is that scenario. If it wasn’t to continue here, after that, I haven’t given it much thought.

“I think also for me personally, I would take some time to get clarity over what I want,ꦑ and find a new challenge.

“Of course, I would be in a racing car in the future because it’s what I love doing, it’s my pa🐽ssion. I think only time will tell on that.”