A lot of experience for the new Audi team: Formula 1 driver Nico Hülkenberg will initially drive for the Sauber racing team from 2025, which will become the Audi works team a year later.
Audi announced on Friday (April 26, 2024) that Hülkenberg had signed a contract for several years. Audi announced in March that it would completely take over the Sauber Group. Next year, Hülkenberg will initially start for Sauber before driving for Audi as a works driver in 2026.
Hülkenberg is quoted in the statement as saying: “The prospect of competing for Audi is something very special. When a German manufacturer enters Formula 1 with such determination, then it is a unique opportunity.” But before Audi, Hülkenberg, 36, first wants clean. It’s a reunion. He has already driven for the racing team once, that was in the 2013 season.
In two years, Audi will take over the Swiss Sauber team and would like to join as a works team. In the future, Hülkenberg, with his experience from over 200 Formula 1 races, will be an “important part of the transformation of our team – and Audi’s F1 project,” said Andreas Seidl, managing director of Sauber Motorsports. He will work for Audi in the same position from 2026.
Until the team’s Formula 1 start, Hülkenberg will also be “closely involved in the development” of the new car.
Hülkenberg’s contract with Haas is expiring
In the current season, the Finn Valtteri Bottas, once vice world champion, and the Chinese Zhou Guanyu are driving for Sauber. The team is still without a point and is last in the constructors’ championship.
Hülkenberg is currently still driving for Haas and his contract ends after this season. At Haas he replaced his compatriot Mick Schumacher after the 2022 season.
Before the season, Hülkenberg said in an interview that he wanted to “have fun” because then he would perform at his best. In the Formula 1 drivers’ standings, Hülkenberg is in 13th place with four points after five races.
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