Valtteri Bottas, the Finnish driver for Sauber, believes that Audi’s desire to have a German driver when they enter Formula 1 in 2026 played a role in the hiring of Nico Hulkenberg by Sauber for the upcoming season. Sauber recently announced that they have signed Hulkenberg to a long-term contract, making him the first driver to commit to the team’s expansion as an Audi official team. While Audi’s name is not officially associated with the team until new technical regulations are implemented, Sauber revealed that Audi will have a say in driver selection. Audi has already expressed a preference for a German driver, which was fulfilled with Hulkenberg’s move from Haas.
Bottas, who has expressed his desire to work with Audi, admitted that the news of Hulkenberg’s hiring came as a surprise to him, although he understands the reasoning behind it. He commented on the timing of the announcement, stating that it is early in the season for news of this kind, but acknowledges that the driver market is starting to move. Bottas also acknowledged that it makes sense for Sauber to hire a German driver, as Audi has made it clear that they want a German representative. He remains optimistic about his own future, stating that he is in talks with several teams and some discussions have progressed further than others.
Hulkenberg, who returned to a full-time seat last season, admitted that it is unusual for him to have his future resolved so early in the year. He expressed his desire to finish the current season successfully and emphasized that he will continue to give his best, even knowing where his future lies. He also confirmed that Sauber approached him about a possible move for this season, but he chose to stay at Haas for another year. However, this year there was renewed interest from Sauber, and after discussions with both teams, he decided to make the switch to Sauber.
