Nico Hulkenberg, a German driver, has been hired by Sauber, which will become the official team of Audi in 2026. The multi-year agreement was announced ahead of Audi’s entry into Formula 1 in 2026, when new power unit regulations will be introduced. Hulkenberg, 36, will leave Haas after the 2024 season and join Sauber starting in 2025. This marks Hulkenberg’s return to Sauber, where he previously raced in 2013. He will be working alongside Andreas Seidl, leader of Audi’s F1 project, who was the head of Porsche’s LMP1 team when Hulkenberg won in 2015. Seidl expressed his excitement about hiring Hulkenberg, stating that he will play a crucial role in Audi’s entry into Formula 1. Hulkenberg also expressed his enthusiasm for representing Audi, describing it as a unique opportunity. The team has not yet announced Hulkenberg’s teammate for 2025 and beyond, but there have been rumors that Audi is courting Carlos Sainz, who currently drives for Ferrari.
