Nico Hulkenberg became the first driver to commit to the Audi Formula 1 project, as Sauber continues its transformation to become the official team of the German manufacturer until 2026. Sauber Motorsport AG CEO Andreas Seidl, who played a key role in securing Hulkenberg’s contract, was instrumental in bringing him to the team. Hulkenberg spoke highly of Seidl, describing him as a straightforward and honest person. Before joining Audi, Hulkenberg considered a possible seat at McLaren in 2020, but Seidl advised against it. However, this time, Seidl was eager to hire Hulkenberg for the Audi project.
Prior to joining Haas full-time in 2023, Hulkenberg had only taken on reserve roles in Formula 1. He replaced Sergio Perez and Lance Stroll at Racing Point in 2020 and was also approached by Aston Martin to substitute for Sebastian Vettel in the first two races of the 2022 season. Hulkenberg’s performances since his return with Haas have been impressive, especially in qualifying. He believes Audi’s decision to hire him is a testament to his consistent form and hard work over the past year and a half. Hulkenberg expressed his happiness and gratitude for the opportunity, noting that he is in a much better mindset compared to the end of 2019.
With Hulkenberg secured as their driver, Sauber/Audi is now looking for a teammate for the German. They have shown interest in free agent driver Carlos Sainz, while the future of current drivers Zhou Guanyu and Valtteri Bottas remains uncertain.
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