Nico Hulkenberg says he has no option but to play a “patient game” with 🥂his future in Formula 1 still unce☂rtain beyond the end of the 2019 season.

The German has been left without a drive for 2020 after Renault signed Mercedes junior Esteban Ocon to ♕partner Daniel Ricciardo n𒁃ext year.

Hulkenberg’s options of extending his spell in F1 are becoming increasingly limited after he was ruled out of contention for a possible Red Bull drive, while Haas opted to retain Romain Grosjean alongside Kevin Magnussen for a fourth straight sꦓeason.

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 to𒉰 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 𒀰at the Swiss squad for a second successive campaign.

A se꧙at remains free at Williams after Robert Kubica announce𝔍d he will leave the team at the end of 2019, though it is understood that Formula 2 frontrunner Nicholas Latifi will replace the departing Pole.

Speaking in the FIA drivers’ press confe🐓rence ahead of th꧋is weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix, Hulkenberg said: “There’s no news.

“So it’s a little bit more of a patient game, ha🌃ve to wait and see a bi♉t longer.”

Asked about the prospect of him not racing at all in 2020, Hulkenberg replied: “I guess there is that scenario. 🦹If it wasn’t to contin﷽ue 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, and fi🔥nd a new challenge.

“Of course, I would be in a racing car in the future because it’s what I love do🐟ing🌌, it’s my passion. I think only time will tell on that.”