Hulkenberg received Ferrari snub by text

Reports around the internet are suggesting that Nico Hulkenberg was told he had been snubbed by Ferrari over a text message.

The German driver may have always been a second or even a third choice option behind Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa, but had still spent the last two months in negotiations with Ferrari. With a contract offer virtually in place.

Over the weekend of the Italian Grand Prix, Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo named Hulkenberg, Paul Di Resta and Raikkonen as options for Ferrari if they decided against keeping Felipe Massa.

Massa announced on Tuesday that he would be leaving Ferrari at the end of the season, opening the door for a new driver to step into the seat at Maranello.

There have been some reports that Hulkenberg merely needed the signature of di Montezemolo and he would have become a Ferrari driver for next season.

But instead his manager Werner Heinz received a text message from Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali that they had opted against signing Hulkenberg.

‘After two months of negotiations, I at least expected a phone call,’ Heinz told Auto Motor und Sport.

Hulkenberg’s future in Formula One is now in limbo. The former Williams and Force India driver is unlikely to stay at Sauber in 2014.

Due to Sauber’s current financial problems Russian youngster Sergey Sirotkin is likely to take one seat due to his connections with Sauber’s new Russian partners. While Mexican driver Esteban Gutierrez is also important due to his connections with sponsor Telmex.

That leaves Hulkenberg searching for another team and could be set to replace Kimi at Lotus.