Le Mans and F1 in same year Too much now says Hulkenberg

MONTREAL - Nico Hulkenberg raced in the 24 Hours of Le Mans a decade ago when the Formula One calendar allowed it, and came away a winner with Porsche.

The German could not do that now, with the 93rd edition of the French endurance race clashing with this weekends Canadian Grand Prix where Hulkenberg, now 37, will be on the starting grid with Sauber.

There will be another overlap next year but even if there was not Hulkenberg says trying to do both would be too much today.

I think everyone was a lot less busy (in 2015),you know, than now, the German, who finished fifth in Spain two weekends ago, told Reuters in a recent interview.

Twenty-four races, all the stuff in between, its a full-time job. I can only talk for myself but, personally, I wouldnt want the extra gig at the moment. Im fully focused on F1 and for me, Im happy that way.

Hulkenberg, now one of only two fathers on the F1 grid along with Max Verstappen, was with Force India in 2015 when he got the chance to race Le Mans.

The sportscar race chooses its winners, they say, and that weekend he hit the jackpot along with fellow rookie Earl Bamber of New Zealand and Britains Nick Tandy.

Hulkenberg had raced in Canada the weekend before with F1 and went on to Austria immediately after.

It definitely took some time to first understand the car and get a grip on it and properly get the lap time out of it, he recalled. I was still improving and understanding, I was clicking only really in the night of the race.

To jump back into Formula One I think was not a problem, because there was so much positivity after a race like this.