Nico Hulkenberg is a German racing driver known for his lengthy career in Formula One, where he holds an unfortunate distinction — the highest number of Formula One race starts without achieving a podium. Hulkenberg’s career has seen him drive for several mid-level teams, and he has achieved success outside F1 in endurance racing, including winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2015.
| Nationality | German |
|---|---|
| Born | Nicolas Hülkenberg 19 August 1987 Emmerich am Rhein, West Germany |
Prior to joining the F1 grid, his career included a championship win in the 2009 GP2 Series and he title wins in the Formula 3 Euro Series and the A1 Grand Prix Series. Hulkenberg is also among the elite six F1 drivers who, since 2005, clinched the GP2 Series/Formula 2 title in their debut season — joining the ranks of Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg, Charles Leclerc, George Russell, and Oscar Piastri.
After years of testing for the team from 2007 to 2009, Hulkenberg made his Formula One debut with Williams in 2010. His standout performance of the season came at the 2010 Brazilian Grand Prix, where he claimed his first pole position, giving Williams their first pole in five years. Despite a promising rookie season, Williams replaced Hulkenberg with Pastor Maldonado for the 2011 season, leaving him without a race seat.
In 2011, Hulkenberg joined Force India as a reserve driver, where he spent the season testing for the team. His patience paid off, as he was promoted to a full-time driver for the 2012 season. Consistent points finishes and a strong showing at the 2011 Brazilian Grand Prix, where he led the race for a significant portion before finishing fifth, earned him attention from other teams in the paddock.
Hulkenberg moved to Sauber for the 2013 season, where he continued to build on his reputation as a reliable and fast driver. Despite Sauber’s struggles with competitiveness, Hulkenberg managed to score some strong results, including a standout fourth-place finish at the 2013 Korean Grand Prix.
In 2014, Hulkenberg returned to Force India, where he partnered with Sergio Perez. Over the next three seasons, he helped Force India become one of the stronger midfield teams. Though he never achieved a podium, he often finished in the top five. His time at Force India also included a sixth-place finish in the Drivers’ Championship in 2014, one of his best overall seasons in Formula One.
Hulkenberg joined Renault for the 2017 season, a move that was seen as an opportunity to push toward the front of the grid as Renault aimed to rebuild as a factory team. Although Hulkenberg often outperformed his car, the team was not yet competitive enough to challenge for podiums. He was eventually replaced by Esteban Ocon for the 2020 season, leaving him without a drive.
Without a full-time seat, Hulkenberg returned to Racing Point (formerly Force India, and later rebranded as Aston Martin) as a reserve driver in 2020. He filled in for Sergio Perez and Lance Stroll in three races during the COVID-19 pandemic, earning praise for his performances, including a third-place start at the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix and a top-ten finish after being called in at the last minute. In 2022, Hulkenberg again stepped in as a substitute, this time for Sebastian Vettel in two races.
His stand-in performances earned him a place back on the grid in 2023 when he joined Haas alongside Kevin Magnussen. Hulkenberg quickly proved his worth by consistently outperforming his teammate in qualifying and delivering solid race performances. Despite Haas’s struggles with race pace and tyre degradation, Hulkenberg earned points finishes and kept Haas competitive in the midfield. However, by the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix, Hulkenberg had not added to his podium or win tally, maintaining the records for most career starts without a win or podium (both 221). He left Haas at the end of the 2024 season to rejoin Sauber, ahead of the team’s transition to Audi.
Outside of Formula One, Hulkenberg succeeded in endurance racing, competing for Porsche in the FIA World Endurance Championship. He participated in two rounds of the 2015 season, including the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans. In his debut at Le Mans, Hulkenberg claimed an overall victory, becoming one of the few drivers to win the race on their first attempt.
