Nico Hulkenberg has been enjoying an amazing season with Haas. The German driver has impressed everyone with his qualifying performances in Formula 1. However, he has suffered because of Haas’ massive tyre degradation. The driver’s stocks have risen, and he is now looking at his long-term future in the sport. He is particularly looking at the Audi Team entering in 2026 as a potential seat. He even has links with Andreas Seidl as well.
His Connection with Audi
Nico Hulkenberg has a few connections with the future setup of Audi. He drove for Sauber in 2013, which will be taken over by Audi. Moreover, he won the 24h of Le Mans with Porsche in 2015. Andreas Seidl was involved in the Porsche Project then. This time around, Audi poached him from McLaren to work on their Formula 1 project.
Also, Audi is a proud German manufacturer. They will see the value of having a German driver in the team. However, Mick Schumacher also fits that bill and brings much more in marketing value and sponsorship. But Nico Hulkenberg has literally just replaced him at Haas, and has done a much better job. If Mick doesn’t get a seat till 2026, he will have been out of Formula 1 for 3 years. For context, he was in Formula 1 for just 2 years.
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“Very Attractive Project”
Nico Hulkenberg remarked how working with a new prospect in Formula 1 is very exciting. He said Audi is definitely one of the more attractive projects right now. He also mentioned how the team has people he has worked with earlier.
But Nico Hulkenberg is not a naïve youngster. He knows he will have to do a lot of work to be in the talks for that seat. He will turn 38 in 2025. Fernando Alonso, Kimi Raikkonen, and Lewis Hamilton have all shown that age doesn’t matter. But to be chosen ahead of younger talents, Nico will have to put in dazzling performances.
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Andreas Seidl is very close with Lando Norris as well and has expressed interest in signing him. However, if Nico Hulkenberg keeps outperforming his machinery like he is in 2023, he will have a genuine shot.
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