The German automotive brand Audi began its hard work to land in Formula 1 in the 2026 season, and ahead of this premiere, it announced in the last few hours that its first driver will be Nico Hülkenberg.
The German rider will leave Haas starting in 2025, which had allowed him to return to the top category in 2023 to occupy the seat that until then was owned by Mick Schumacher.
The 36-year-old driver had his first experience in the Máxima in 2010 and since then he used the suits of Williams, Force India, Sauber, Renault, Racing Point, Aston Martin and the aforementioned Haas.
In 2025, for one season it will have the colors of the team that is currently called, for commercial reasons, Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber. But a year later he will be one of the figures of his country’s automotive company, which in 2022 had already confirmed that it would join F1.
In the announcement made by the entity during the last hours, it was clear that Hülkenberg will be essential for the formation of the car that will be launched on the track in two years: “The German driver signed a multi-year contract and, in 2026, he will become the first driver of Audi’s entry into the top category of motorsport.”
“With experience in over 200 F1 races, Nico is an important piece for the team’s successful and continued development. In parallel with his commitments to the Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber team in the 2025 season, he will be closely involved in the development of the first car of Audi F1 by 2026″, they added.
“The prospect of racing for Audi is something very special. When a German manufacturer enters Formula 1 with such determination, it is a unique opportunity. Representing the factory team of a car brand with a German-made engine is a great honor for me,” Hülkenberg acknowledged.
“We are very pleased to welcome Nico here at Hinwil from 2025 and compete with him in Formula One. With his speed, his experience and his commitment to teamwork, he will be an important part of the transformation of our team. team and the Audi F1 project,” commented Sauber CEO Andreas Seidl, who will lead the future Audi F1 factory.
“From the beginning there was a great mutual interest in building something together for the long term. Nico has a strong personality and his contribution, on a professional and personal level, will help us progress both in the development of the car and in the construction of the team,” Seidl praised him.
Although he will continue this year in the car of the North American firm Haas, the boss of that team, the Japanese Ayao Komatsu, also sent him a farewell message: “I would like to extend my gratitude to Nico for his contributions to the team. There are many more races left this year, so we hope to continue benefiting from his contributions for the remainder of the 2024 season.”
