Nico Hulkenberg acknowledged the recent departure of Andreas Seidl and Oliver Hoffmann from the current Stake Sauber Formula 1 team, which the experienced German driver will be joining next season as it undergoes a transformation into Audi for 2026. The announcement of these managerial changes by Audi on Tuesday came as a surprise to Hulkenberg, who had been in negotiations with Seidl and Hoffman regarding his move to the Audi F1 project. However, despite their departures, Hulkenberg remains unfazed and is still excited to be a part of the project, focusing on making it a success regardless of their absence.
Hulkenberg expressed his lack of concern, stating that although the news was unexpected and a bit disappointing, his focus remains on the project itself and his goal of joining Formula 1 with Audi. He believes that the success of such a big project does not solely rely on a few individuals, and that change is a common occurrence in the world of Formula 1. Hulkenberg was personally informed of the changes by Audi CEO Gernot Dollner, who will now take on the role of chairman of the board at Sauber Motorsport.
Valtteri Bottas also commented on the changes, stating that it will result in a reset for the Sauber-run team. He described the news as sudden and unexpected, as the drivers and many team members were not aware of what was happening behind the scenes. Bottas welcomed Mattia Binotto to the team and expressed gratitude towards Seidl and Hoffman for their contributions.
In conclusion, the departure of Seidl and Hoffman from the Stake Sauber Formula 1 team, which is set to become Audi in 2026, came as a surprise to both Nico Hulkenberg and Valtteri Bottas. Despite this unexpected change, Hulkenberg remains optimistic and focused on the project, while Bottas sees it as a reset for the team.
