Nico Hulkenberg will race with Sauber from 2025, which will become Audi from 2026. Hulkenberg, who could be joined by Carlos Sainz, is enthusiastic: “An honor to drive for a German team.”
There Formula 1 he is increasingly thinking about the 2025 World Cup. Nico Hulkenberg, who started the championship very well with the Haasannounced his farewell to the American team that had brought him back to the circus and announced that from next season he will race again with the Sauberwhich from 2026 will, however, be Audi – which it aims above all to have Carlos Sainz.
Haas team principal Japanese Ayo Komatsu said: “Thank you for his contribution to the team, we care about him a lot and we enjoyed working with Nico“. Leave of absence, however, for 2025. Because Hulkenberg will continue to race and duel with Haas until December.
Hulkenberg said he was delighted with both the return to Sauber and the chance to race with Audi. A German in a German car: “I return to the team I worked with in 2013 and I have fond memories of the strong team spirit that can be felt in Switzerland. The prospect of racing for Audi is something very special. When a German manufacturer enters Formula 1 with such determination, it is a unique opportunity. Representing the official team of such an automotive brand with a Power Unit produced in Germany is a great honor for me.”
The 2025 Formula 1 calendar, all the dates and GPs of the F1 world championship: the inaugural race changes
Carlos Sainz is also in Audi’s sights
Sauber in 2025 will still not be up to par with the best teams and therefore life won’t change much for Hulkenberg, but from 2026 with Audi he could fight for the top positions. The German company has great ambitions and for this reason it is courting Carlos Sainz, who is waiting to understand if he has the possibility of racing for Red Bull, which is complicated, or with Mercedes, which must replace Hamilton.
The Formula 1 drivers in the 2025 World Championship
Red Bull: Max Verstappen, Perez/Tsunoda/Sainz
Ferrari: Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton
McLaren: Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri
Mercedes: George Russell, Sainz/Ocon/Antonelli
Aston Martin: Fernando Alonso, Lance Stroll
Alpine: Gasly/Ocon/Bottas
Racing Bulls: Tsunoda/Lawson/Ricciardo/Hauger
Sauber: Nico Hulkenberg, Bottas/Zhou/Sainz
Williams: Alexander Albon, Antonelli/Sargeant
Haas: Bearman/Magnussen/Fittipaldi
