Nico Hulkenberg, the 36-year-old German driver, has officially signed with Sauber, marking the first signing for Audi as they gear up for their inaugural Formula 1 season in 2026. Another key prospect for Audi is Carlos Sainz from Ferrari.
Andreas Seidl, the CEO of Sauber and Audi’s F1 project, praised Hulkenberg: “With his speed, experience and commitment to teamwork, Nico will be an important part of the transformation of our team.”
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Reflecting on his new chapter, Hulkenberg, who won Le Mans with Seidl and Porsche in 2015, shared his excitement about joining Audi: “The prospect of competing for Audi is something very special.
“When a German manufacturer enters F1 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 honour for me.”
With Hulkenberg’s departure, his current spot at the American-based Haas team is open, with Kevin Magnussen remaining for now although without a seat at the end of 2024. Brit, Oliver Bearman, currently driving in Formula 2 and a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy, is a primary contender for Hulkenberg’s seat after his noteworthy performance at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix as a stand-in for the recovering Sainz.
Hulkenberg, who began his F1 career in 2010, has competed with Williams, Force India, Sauber, and Renault. After being released by Renault in 2019, he made sporadic appearances as a substitute for Racing Point/Aston Martin between 2020 and 2022, returning to a full-time F1 role with Haas in 2023.
Born on 19 August 1987, Nico Hülkenberg has had a competitive racing career, including a championship win in the 2009 GP2 Series and has triumphed in the Formula 3 Euro Series and the A1 Grand Prix for A1 Team Germany.
Notably, Hülkenberg is among just a few drivers who, since 2005, have clinched the GP2 Series/Formula 2 title in their debut season — joining the likes of Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg, Charles Leclerc, George Russell, and Oscar Piastri.
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