Future in Rings
It was the 2015 And Nico Hulkenbergat the time a Force India F1 driver, decided to try his hand at a different challenge by agreeing with Porsche to take part in the 24 hours of Le Mans of that year. Head of the German team was Andreas Seidl and Hulk, teamed with Earl Bamber and Nick Tandy, managed to climb to the top step of the podium, achieving the most prestigious triumph of his career. Now, almost 10 years later, the Seidl-Hulkenberg couple will reform.
Emmerich’s veteran indeed has accepted the Audi court to become a regular driver for the Four Rings company, who will make his F1 debut in 2026, inheriting the structures of the current Sauber. Hulkenberg will wear the Swiss team’s suit next year before the definitive change of ownership. A great satisfaction that comes in the final part of the career for a talented and fast driver who – until now – has never stood on a podium in the Circus.
Seidl effect
Speaking to the official F1 website, Hulkenberg made no secret of how Seidl’s presence was fundamental in his decision to get back into the game with the historic manufacturer from Ingolstadt: “He was the driving factor, one of the decision makers, one of the most important people in Audi management. Obviously he was the one who decided and he was always very direct and frank with me.”, #27 explained. In this regard, the current Haas driver also revealed a funny anecdote from early 2020.
At the time, Hulkenberg had been dropped by Renault and was looking for a starting seat – which he would not find – for the 2020 season. One of his ‘self-nominations’ concerned the McLaren, of which Seidl was team principal at the time. In that case, however, the current CEO of Sauber was unable to hire his compatriot: “I remember in 2020, before the season started, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. I rang him and he was at McLaren at the time. I asked him: ‘Is there a chance for me?’and he was categorical: ‘No, don’t kid yourself, it won’t happen’“. Four years later, the scenario has changed a lot.
