Next year, Nico Hülkenberg will be leaving Haas to join Sauber. With the debut of an Audi factory team on the horizon, the German driver hopes to once again compete at the forefront. A few years ago, he bid farewell to Formula 1, but now he is a popular veteran who has proven at Haas that he has not lost his racing skills. Hülkenberg himself looks back on a ‘pleasurable’ period with the American racing team.
During the season finale in Abu Dhabi, Nico Hülkenberg was asked by the media about his past two years at Haas. After Mick Schumacher was dismissed in 2023, the experienced German, who had not raced full-time in Formula 1 since 2019, was hired. The 37-year-old driver particularly impressed in the past season. His speed in the qualifiers and his ability to score good points for the team did not go unnoticed. Sauber, which will be taken over by Audi from 2026, subsequently offered him a two-year contract.
“It was a very positive experience,” Hülkenberg said about his two-year adventure with Haas. “Lots of positive emotions, a lot of joy and a lot of fun – that’s how I look back on the past two years. I think we have grown together during that time and have become quite strong. It’s been a really fun ride. I think we, at least for me personally, have exceeded expectations. After two years of absence, I myself did not think my career would go this way.
‘Joy in Formula 1’
“Ultimately, the most successful races are the ones that stay with you,” Nico Hülkenberg continued. “But that’s not the only thing that matters to me. The journey we’ve taken together is very important to me. As I’ve said, I’ve had a lot of fun, and that hasn’t always been the case in Formula 1. So for me, that’s simply the best. The fact that I get to spend a few extra hours in this sport next year is probably also a highlight.”
A new challenge awaits him in 2025. At Sauber, which was the tailender in Formula 1 this year, he has to prepare the team for the takeover by Audi. In addition, he has to mentor newcomer Gabriel Bortoleto. “I’m very positive about it,” Hülkenberg responded. “This year has fortunately already been very successful – we’ve kind of already won with Haas.”
