Until the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League, the inaugural Audi driver in Formula 1 for their factory entry may not be the project leader in the end. However, considering Nico Hulkenberg’s three-year hiatus from the sport, during which his career was in jeopardy, securing the Sauber/Audi seat for the next three years is a remarkable comeback story for the 36-year-old German driver.
Audi’s main motivation seems to be the desire to have a German driver as one of the prominent figures in their 2026 working effort. With Sebastian Vettel and Mick Schumacher no longer on the current F1 grid from the end of 2022, Hulkenberg is the best option for Audi in that regard.
Since his debut in Formula 1 with Williams in 2010, Hulkenberg has accumulated 534 points in the world championship and participated in 208 races until the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix. This experience makes him one of the most experienced drivers in the sport.
However, Hulkenberg also holds the unfortunate record for most starts in F1 without a podium and is likely to break the record for most starts in Formula 1 without a win in Miami, on his 209th attempt. However, this should not overshadow his qualities as a driver.
After ending his stint with Renault in 2019, Hulkenberg spent the following three years on the sidelines. However, he made cameo appearances in 2020, replacing Sergio Perez and Lance Stroll at Racing Point during the coronavirus lockdown. He also filled in for Vettel twice in early 2022 when the team transitioned to Aston Martin.
These occasional appearances solidified Hulkenberg’s reputation as a reliable driver who consistently scores points. He achieved a seventh place in the 2020 70th Anniversary Grand Prix at Silverstone, surprisingly qualifying in third. He also finished eighth in the Eifel Grand Prix at the Nürburgring in the same year, replacing Stroll.
His performances as a substitute for Vettel in the early races of 2022 were not as successful, but Hulkenberg outperformed regular driver Stroll at the Bahrain GP and had a better performance in the subsequent Saudi Arabian GP.
These achievements earned Hulkenberg a second chance in Formula 1, when he was hired by Haas for the 2023 season. Haas decided to rely on his experience after growing impatient with Schumacher. Hulkenberg is not the only driver to take a break from F1 and return in recent years. Daniil Kvyat, Kevin Magnussen, and Fernando Alonso have also done the same.
Among these drivers, Alonso made the most of his second chance. After a disappointing stint with McLaren in 2019, he took a two-year break from F1 and ventured into other racing disciplines. Alonso won the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the second time with Toyota and participated in the Dakar Rally. Now, he is performing exceptionally well with Aston Martin, achieving podiums and challenging the top teams.
Hulkenberg, winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Porsche in 2015, had a more modest return to F1 in 2023, with only one points finish in Australia. However, he started the current season strongly, scoring three times even as Haas finished last in the 2023 constructors’ championship.
The return of Hulkenberg to F1 may not have garnered as much attention as Alonso’s, but his opportunity to join Audi for a second factory stint is a fitting end to his redemption journey. When he entered F1 in 2010, he was highly respected, and the prospect of him signing with a major manufacturer team would not have been surprising. However, his lack of racing from 2020 to 2022 made his current opportunity with Audi unexpected.
Returning to F1 after a year away is no easy task. Kvyat’s experience serves as an example, as he lost his seat at Toro Rosso in 2017 and returned for a two-year period in 2019 and 2020 without securing a major opportunity. Hulkenberg’s time away from the sport has been beneficial for him, but his chance with Audi did not simply fall into his lap.
Hulkenberg and Audi find themselves in the right place at the right time. With Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari shaking up the driver market for 2025, Audi has secured an experienced driver who can finally fulfill his potential.
© 2024
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