Hulkenberg leaves Haas, joins Sauber

Experienced German Nico Hulkenberg will leave Haas at the end of the 2024 Formula 1 season and return to Sauber ahead of the Audi era.

Haas has confirmed Hulkenberg’s departure from the American team after a two-year stint comes to the end at this year’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The 36-year-old German who has the most Grand Prix starts without a win or podium will reunite with Sauber, where he raced back in 2013.

After making his debut back in 2010 with Williams and taking a famous pole in Brazil, Hulkenberg then spent five of the next six seasons at Force India with 2013 the exception being a one-year stint at Sauber.

In that season he scored points on 10 occasions with impressive top five finishes at Italy and Korea during a strong finish.

Despite the late momentum to finish 10th in the championship, he went straight back to Force India for the start of the Turbo Hybrid era.

However, Hulkenberg has “fond memories” of his time with the Swiss team and is looking forward to reuniting one year before it turns into Audi where he will be a German face for the German brand.

“I’m returning to the team I worked with back in 2013 and have fond memories of the strong team spirit in Switzerland,” said Hulkenberg.

“The prospect of competing for Audi is something very special. When a German manufacturer enters Formula 1 with such determination, it is a unique opportunity.

“To represent the factory team of such a car brand with a power unit made in Germany is a great honour for me.”

Nico Hulkenberg on the grid at Shanghai. Photo by Mark Sutton / Sutton Images)

“We are very pleased to welcome Nico back here in Hinwil from 2025 and to compete with him in Formula 1,” Sauber’s Andrea Seidl commented.

“With his speed, his experience and his commitment to teamwork, he will be an important part of the transformation of our team – and of Audi’s F1 project.

“Right from the start, there was great mutual interest in building something long-term together.

“Nico is a strong personality, and his input, on a professional and personal level, will help us to make progress both in the development of the car and in building up the team.”

After his return to Force India, a move to the factory backed Renault in 2017 appeared to be Hulkenberg’s best chance of getting a breakthrough podium but after a number of near misses he was replaced by Esteban Ocon in 2020 and found himself off the grid.

However, the German still impressed as a COVID-19 sub for Racing Point/Aston Martin which led to his return to the full-time grid with Haas last year.

After a 2023 season that contained just the one points finish, Hulkenberg has already scored in three of the five races so far in 2024.

Haas Team Principal Ayao Komatsu said Hulkenberg’s experience has been valuable for the American team.

Nico Hulkenberg in the Sauber C32 ahead of Lewis Hamilton in the 2013 German Grand Prix.

“I’d like to extend my thanks to Nico for his contributions to the team,” he said of Hulkenberg.

“In the time that he’s been here with us. He has been a great team player and someone we very much enjoy working with.

“His experience and feedback have proved invaluable to us in terms of improving our overall performance – a fact that’s clearly evident in both his qualifying and race performances in the VF-24 this season.

“There’s lots more racing to go this year, so we look forward to continuing to benefit from his inputs throughout the remainder of the 2024 season.”

The news comes just before Haas’ first home race of the year in Miami next weekend.

Photo by Mark Sutton / Sutton Images

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