Nico Hulkenberg will be a part of the Audi Formulation 1 challenge by transferring to Stake in 2025 on a multi-year deal, bringing an finish to his time racing for Haas.
Haas signed Hulkenberg forward of the 2023 season after he had been out of a full-time Formulation 1 seat for 3 years, and the German duly delivered spectacular performances, significantly in qualifying. This 12 months his robust type has continued, with three point-scoring leads to the primary 5 races, making him a key goal for Audi when it turns into a full constructor from 2026 onwards.
“I’m returning to the group I labored with again in 2013 and have fond recollections of the robust group spirit in Switzerland,” Hulkenberg stated. “The prospect of competing for Audi is one thing very particular. When a German producer enters Formulation 1 with such dedication, it’s a distinctive alternative. To characterize the manufacturing facility group of such a automotive model with an influence unit made in Germany is a good honor for me.”
With Hulkenberg turning into the primary confirmed driver for Audi when it enters in 2026, future Audi F1 CEO Andreas Seidl — presently CEO of Sauber Motorsport AG — says his expertise might be important to the group’s improvement.
“We’re very happy to welcome Nico again right here in Hinwil from 2025 and to compete with him in Formulation 1,” Seidl stated. “Along with his velocity, his expertise and his dedication to teamwork, he might be an vital a part of the transformation of our group — and of Audi’s F1 challenge.
“Proper from the beginning, there was nice mutual curiosity in constructing one thing long-term collectively. Nico is a robust character and his enter, on knowledgeable and private degree, will assist us to make progress each within the improvement of the automotive and in build up the group.”
Along with Hulkenberg’s returning to the group over a decade on from a 12 months racing for Sauber in 2013, the settlement additionally marks a reunion for him with Seidl, who was the Porsche group principal within the World Endurance Championship when Hulkenberg gained at Le Mans for the group in 2015.
The information additionally confirms the departure of a minimum of one of many present Stake lineup of Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu on the finish of this season. Carlos Sainz has been closely linked with a transfer to hitch the Audi challenge following the tip of his Ferrari contract this 12 months.
