The expectation regarding Hulkenberg’s future is set to further spice up the thrilling “Crazy Season”, which began with Lewis Hamilton’s move from Mercedes to Ferrari in 2025.
In a statement released on Friday, Haas revealed that Hulkenberg will not extend his contract beyond 2024. Interestingly, the statement did not include any comments from the German driver.
The official statement from the United States F1 team reads as follows: “Hulkenberg (36) returned to Formula 1 in 2023 with the MoneyGram Haas F1 team after a three-year absence from the sport. The German driver currently holds the 13th position in the driver standings, with three top 10 finishes in five races of the 24-race schedule.”
Team principal Ayao Komatsu expressed his gratitude to Nico for his contributions to the team during his time with them. He praised Hulkenberg’s experience and feedback, which greatly helped improve the team’s overall performance. Komatsu concluded by stating that they look forward to benefiting from Hulkenberg’s contributions for the remainder of the 2024 season.
There are rumors that Hulkenberg may join Audi’s F1 project, as the German manufacturer continues to develop the Sauber F1 operation into its own project, starting in 2026. Shortly after Haas’ announcement, Sauber released a statement confirming Hulkenberg as their driver for 2025.
Hulkenberg’s contract with Sauber is a multi-year agreement that will see him compete for the team following their transition to Audi in 2026.
Andreas Seidl, CEO of Sauber Motorsport AG and future CEO of the Audi F1 factory team, expressed his satisfaction in welcoming Hulkenberg back to Hinwil in 2025. He emphasized Hulkenberg’s speed, experience, and commitment to teamwork, highlighting his importance in the team’s transformation and Audi’s F1 project. Seidl also mentioned the mutual interest in building a long-term partnership and praised Hulkenberg’s strong personality and valuable contributions.
Hulkenberg himself expressed his excitement in returning to the team he previously worked with in 2013 and reminisced about the strong team spirit in Switzerland. He described the opportunity to compete for Audi as something very special, emphasizing the unique nature of a German manufacturer entering Formula 1 with such determination. Representing a factory team with a power unit made in Germany is a great honor for the 36-year-old driver.
However, Sauber has not revealed which of its current drivers, Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu, will make room for Hulkenberg. There are reports that Audi is eyeing Carlos Sainz as their second driver, although Sainz has not yet decided on his future beyond 2024, his last season with Ferrari.
