From being out of Formula 1 at the end of 2019 to being one of the first names on the shortlist for Audi’s impending works entry, Nico Hulkenberg has enjoyed a late career turnaround after many had already written the German off.
Hulkenberg had become F1’s modern journeyman, driving for the likes of Williams, Force India, Sauber and Renault, without being able to back up his shock Williams pole at the 2010 Brazilian GP with an elusive podium finish that never arrived.
But after three seasons largely on the sidelines, other than five deputy appearances for Racing Point and Aston Martin, Hulkenberg was handed a second chance by Haas in 2023 and the German went on to turn heads with one of his best seasons yet in 2024, convincing Audi CEO Andreas Seidl to hand him a works seat for years to come.
Speaking in a wide-ranging interview with GP Racing, Hulkenberg explained that leaving Haas for Sauber, which becomes the Audi works team in 2026, wasn’t as straightforward as it may seem.
“It wasn’t a no-brainer because I really enjoy my time at Haas, I enjoy working with the engineers, with the mechanics, with Ayao [Komatsu], with Guenther [Steiner] last year,” the 36-year-old explained.
“Part of me is also still grateful, they made the comeback possible and indirectly gave me this opportunity to go for this next contract now because without them it wouldn’t be on the table, so I appreciate that.
“I think there’s more room for improvement [at Haas], so it was just a combination of things. I’ve had situations where I don’t feel so well inside a team and that’s not great, so now having that is worth quite a lot.
“That’s why it wasn’t the no-brainer you maybe think.
“When I broke the news to [Ayao] I told him immediately: ‘Don’t even think that this will change something for me in this current season. I’m a hundred percent committed till the last corner for Haas.'”
Nico Hulkenberg, Haas F1 Team, in the garage
Photo by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images
Before a return to normality this year, Haas suffered its worst season in its eight-year history in 2023, when it couldn’t find solutions to its puzzling lack of race pace caused by crippling tyre wear issues.
But while Haas languished at the bottom of the field on Sundays, Hulkenberg said his three-year hiatus from F1 changed his perspective and ensured the team’s plight didn’t dent his motivation.
“No, you can’t really afford to lose motivation,” he said. “It didn’t feel great,…
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