Formula 1 racer Nico Hülkenberg will be leaving Haas and joining Sauber at the end of this year. This move will bring a German presence to the team as it transitions to Audi for the 2026 season.
Hülkenberg, who is 36 years old, is departing from Haas after spending two years with them. Despite Haas’ car not being very competitive, Hülkenberg managed to outscore his teammate Kevin Magnussen last season and is currently ahead of him in points after five races this year.
Audi, a German car manufacturer, recently reached an agreement to take over Sauber and plans to establish a full works team starting in 2026. Hülkenberg will play a crucial role in this process and will be closely involved in developing the car for the 2026 season, according to a statement from Sauber.
With over 200 races of experience in Formula 1 since 2010, Hülkenberg holds the record for starting the most races without ever finishing in the top three.
As the only German driver on the grid, Hülkenberg’s presence could be valuable for Audi from a marketing perspective. He previously raced for Sauber back in 2013.
Hülkenberg expressed his excitement about the opportunity to compete for Audi, describing it as a unique honor. He also mentioned that representing a factory team of a German car brand with a German-made power unit is a great privilege for him.
This move will reunite Hülkenberg with Sauber CEO Andreas Seidl, who was the team principal at Porsche when Hülkenberg won the Le Mans 24-hour sportscar race in 2015.
