If you are Hulkenberg looking at Lotus knowing you don't bring a budget, you must be wondering who is paying the bills and where your paycheque is coming from. Back to Force India instead? Really?? I can't see McLaren going back for him, especially with Magnussen in the wings there.
There is a bit of a pattern emerging though with Hulkenberg again nearly getting a big drive. McLaren, Ferrari, now Lotus possibly. He wasn't really considered for Red Bull was he. Where are the doubts coming from? It's not just his size, surely? He was bounced out of Williams after doing well there too.
Imagine his situation instead if he brought $30m sponsorship...! Goes to show how important that is.
Where do all the pay drivers get their cash from? Chilton's dad we know a bit about and Pastor's backing is famous in its own right. What about people backing Pic, van der Garde and even Sutil? How did they get these backers and at what age? You appear to need that or to be part of a young driver scheme these days.
I think it must be much harder for a Kobayashi, Kovaleinen or Hulkenberg to get a big sponsor later in their career anyway. Easy for Vettel and Schumacher of course, but harder when you have already shown your hand somewhat. Youngsters with 'promise' must find it easier than veterans with 'ok results'.
