Nico Hulkenberg is putting together an excellent season with Haas, securing consistent Q3 appearances and top-10 finishes. The German driver committed early to the Audi project, signing a multi-year deal with the manufacturer. Although the team’s short-term prospects are in doubt, Hulkenberg is happy with what Audi are showing.
Hulkenberg: Audi are very focused on F1
After delivering consistently strong results for Sauber, Force India and Renault in the 2010s, Hulkenberg is again demonstrating his calibre with Haas.
Not for the first time, fans and analysts alike are crossing their fingers that Hulkenberg is given a car that matches his abilities.
Whilst the 37-year-old can still produce notable results in the midfield, a manufacturer team like Audi has ambitions to fight at the front.
Of course, as a new entrant, Audi are an unknown quantity in the build-up to 2026. This means that Hulkenberg’s move to the German manufacturer still carries a risk.
The recent appointments of Mattia Binotto and Jonathan Wheatley are a statement of their ambitions in F1. However, these acquisitions are not guaranteed to be game-changers.
When asked about these appointments, Nico Hulkenberg revealed that Haas contacted him personally about the new arrivals:
“It shows respect and shows how serious he and the brand are about it – and that they’re not taking this lightly, that they paying attention.
“They do see what’s happening, what’s going on, and that was good – very good,” motorsport.com quotes him as saying.
“It is a big challenge, no question about that.
“Going to what will be Audi, what will be a German manufacturer, German driver.
“[There will be] a lot of attention, a lot of expectation. It’s not going to be an easy one…
“I’m going to go there with everything I have and then try to contribute in and out of the car as much as I can.”
Sauber must take a step forward
Of course, Audi’s acquisition of Sauber does not mean there won’t be any continuity in the team.
The Swiss team’s factory in Hinwil is still tasked with developing the chassis and aerodynamics for 2026 and beyond.
Considering that Sauber are currently last in the standings (and have been in steady decline since the introduction of these regulations in 2022), Audi’s engines will not be the only relevant factors.
The pieces for success are certainly present, but putting them together is another matter entirely.
Hulkenberg learned in his Renault stint that a team does not always reach its potential.
Investment in top engineering talent and cutting-edge infrastructure can propel the team. Audi have no shortage of financial firepower to strengthen different areas of their operation.
In fact, Sauber’s existing development facilities are relatively new. With more resources at their disposal, there is no reason their aerodynamic department cannot replicate the development that saw them begin the 2022 season as the fourth-fastest team.
Of course, F1 is becoming more competitive every season. As more and more teams emerge as front-runners, Nico Hulkenberg will need the progress at Hinwil to be swift.
As rumours circulate that Gabriel Bortoleto could join Sauber next season, it is increasingly clear that Hulkenberg will be tasked with leading the team.
