Nico Hülkenberg officially leaves Haas to join Audi

By PM

Published 46 minutes ago, Updated now

Hülkernberg (left) will leave Haas to join Sauber, which will become Audi in 2026. PEDRO PARDO / AFP

Nico Hülkenberg leaves Haas at the end of his contract at the end of 2024 and arrives at Sauber in 2025.

Experienced 36-year-old German driver Nico Hülkenberg will leave Haas at the end of the season to join the Sauber team, which will become Audi in 2026, the various Formula 1 teams announced on Friday.

Hulkenberg “signed a contract for several years and, in 2026, he will become the first driver of the Audi team” in Formula 1, announced Sauber, a team based in Hinwill, Switzerland, in a press release.

No podium

With more than 200 Grands Prix under his belt, but zero podiums, the German returning to F1 at Haas in 2023 after three years of absence will be ‘closely involved in the development of Audi’s first F1 car’continues Sauber.

The brand with the four rings, which is part of the Volkswagen galaxy, will be entered for the first time in the premier category in 2026, the year of a change in engine regulations in F1. It will be associated with Sauber.

“The prospect of racing for Audi is something very special”explained Hulkenberg. “When a German manufacturer enters Formula 1 with such determination, it is a unique opportunity. To represent the factory team of such a car brand with a power unit made in Germany is a great honor”.

Andreas Seidl, today CEO of the Sauber team and also of the future Audi team, is convinced that“With his speed, experience and commitment to teamwork, Nico will play an important role in the transformation of our team – and Audi’s F1 project”.

Instead of Zhou or Bottas?

Titled in the lower GP2 category in 2009, Hulkenberg joined F1 in 2010 with Williams. He then drove for Force India (2012, 2014-2016), Sauber for the first time in 2013 and Renault (2017-2019). After stints for Racing Point (2020) and Aston Martin (2022), he arrived at Haas last year.

«Hulk» is currently 13th in the world championship with four points, ahead of his Danish teammate Kevin Magnussen.

At Sauber, neither the Chinese Zhou Guanyu nor the Finn Valtteri Bottas have yet scored a point. It was not specified which of the two will be replaced.

Both could actually be landed. Because, to support Hulkenberg, Sauber-Audi could bet on Carlos Sainz, at the end of his contract with Ferrari, or on one of the Alpine drivers, Esteban Ocon or Pierre Gasly.