Nico Hülkenberg anticipates his current team, Haas, to be a serious contender against his future team, Sauber, by 2025. The German driver is aware of the “exciting developments” at Haas, which could lead to on-track encounters with his former employer. However, he remains uncertain about the American team’s success in 2026.
Hülkenberg is set to join the Swiss team, Sauber, in 2025, after rejoining Formula 1 in 2023. The German driver believes that in his new role as a driver for the Swiss team, he might find himself competing against Haas.
“I think the team is now very well set up,” Hülkenberg reveals about Haas’ future, speaking to Autosport. “And I think it’s a functioning organization, and we have proven that to some extent this year with the changes that were implemented during the winter.”
A Serious Contender
So, with drivers Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman as their future line-up, is Haas headed for a bright future? The German driver isn’t ready to make that call yet. “It always depends on many other factors. Commercially, what partners do they have, what’s the budget, what are the resources?” Hülkenberg explains. “That’s obviously a crucial element in such questions. And I don’t know what the future holds.”
Despite the ongoing uncertainty around the commercial aspect of the team, Hülkenberg believes that Haas will definitely be a serious competitor to Sauber in 2025. “2026 is an unknown for everyone,” the driver adds. “The exciting thing is that 2026 is a blank slate, and that’s what makes it so interesting for everyone.”
