Renault to look at other options than Hulkenberg for 2020 season

Hulkenberg's three-year deal expires at the end of the current season. Daniel Ricciardo, however, will remain at the side next season, as he only signed a two-year deal at the start of this season.

Esteban Ocon could be an option for the French works-team - with Renault coming very close to signing him for the 2019 season. Ocon hasn't got a seat in Formula 1 this season but has refused to give up on the possibility, becoming Mercedes' reserve driver for the campaign.

"We have a two-year contract with Daniel," Abiteboul explained, as cited by Motorsport Week. "Nico's contract, the initial term is coming to an end at the end of this year but there is some mechanism of options as has been commented in the press which I'm not going to disclose in the details that can kick in, so it's maybe that we continue our journey with Nico.

"Frankly, Nico has delivered for the team, clearly, and if you look at where we were when, frankly, Fred (Vasseur) actually was leading that process for us. Nico joined us and where we are today, it's crazy, and the change to the team, to the buzz, and clearly the drivers are no stranger to that, it's not just engineers.

"So I think we need to give credit to that but also we need to look at the options, like everyone is doing, like I'm sure Nico is doing."