Nico Hulkenberg will return to the Formula 1 grid in a full-time capacity next year, having been signed by Haas to replace Mick Schumacher.
Haas made the announcement on Tuesday ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, shortly after confirming Schumacher will not return to drive for the team next year. Hulkenberg completes their 2023 line-up alongside Kevin Magnussen.
Hulkenberg last completed a full season of F1 in 2019 with Renault, now Alpine. Since then he has been a reserve driver for Aston Martin (previously Racing Point), and has been called up to race five times over the past three seasons. He will make his debut for Haas in the post-season test at Yas Marina on Tuesday.
“I feel like I never really left Formula 1,” said 35-year-old Hulkenberg. “I’m excited to have the opportunity to do what I love the most again and want to thank Gene Haas and Günther Steiner for their trust.
“We have work ahead of us to be able to compete with all the other teams in the midfield, and I cannot wait to join that battle again.”
Although Hulkenberg is yet to reach the podium in his 181-race F1 career, he does have a pole position and two fastest laps in midfield machinery. He also took overall victory in the 2015 Le Mans 24 Hours with Porsche.
“I’m naturally very pleased to be welcoming Nico Hülkenberg back to a full-time racing role in Formula 1,” Haas team principal Guenther Steiner said.
“The experience and knowledge base Nico brings to the team is clear to see – with nearly 200 career starts in Formula 1 – and a reputation as being a great qualifier and a solid, reliable racer. These are attributes, which when you pair them together with Kevin Magnussen’s experience, gives us a very credible and well-seasoned driver line-up which we believe will help push the team onwards up the grid.
“That’s obviously the goal and it was that ambition that has prompted Nico’s return to Formula 1 – he shares our vision and can be a key player together with the rest of the team in building on the foundations we’ve laid this year with our return to the points battle.”
It will be Hulkenberg’s third stint as a full-time F1 driver. He joined F1 with Williams in 2010 but lost his seat at the end of the season, despite scoring a surprise pole position at Interlagos, as the team brought in the moneyed Pastor Maldonado. After a year as reserve driver for Force India (now Aston Martin) Hulkenberg was promoted to their race line-up for 2012.
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