In 2026, Nico Hulkenberg is set to join Audi for racing. However, the question remains: who will accompany him as his team-mate?
Guenther Steiner has outlined his fear that Nico Hulkenberg could be “replaced by a superstar” once Audi F1 find their feet in the sport following the German manufacturer’s F1 2026 entry.
Hulkenberg was announced as the first driver signing of Audi’s highly anticipated F1 project last month, with the veteran poised to join the existing Sauber team a year in advance of Audi’s arrival.
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Following Hulkenberg’s return to the grid with Haas in F1 2023, he has delivered a string of remarkable performances. The 36-year-old has secured three point finishes in the initial six races of the new season, which ultimately led to his recent move.
Hulkenberg will be embarking on his second opportunity with a renowned factory team as he transitions to Audi F1. Prior to this switch, he had a three-year stint with Renault (now Alpine) from 2017 to 2019.
During his comeback season with Haas in F1 2023, Hulkenberg collaborated with Steiner and delivered remarkable qualifying performances. Notably, he secured an impressive second place in Canada, trailing only Max Verstappen’s Red Bull, amidst unpredictable weather conditions.
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Steiner, who was substituted by Ayao Komatsu as Haas team principal for the F1 2024 season, expresses sheer delight over Hulkenberg’s remarkable performances being acknowledged with a significant transfer to Audi.
However, he is concerned that once Audi establishes themselves on the grid, the team might try to bring in a more prominent figure than the 36-year-old.
“He has rightfully earned it, as his performance is exceptional,” he stated in an interview with Bild Am Sonntag.
I hope, for Nico’s sake, that he doesn’t put in all the hard work only to be replaced by a superstar who comfortably takes over the achievements he has made.
Recent reports in the German media suggest that Hulkenberg is likely to receive a significant salary increase at Audi, soaring from his current €2 million with Haas to a staggering €5 million per year.
Over the past year, there have been strong connections between Audi and the potential signing of Carlos Sainz, the departing Ferrari driver, as Hulkenberg’s teammate for the F1 2025 team. This has left the identity of Hulkenberg’s teammate shrouded in mystery.
Last month, Helmut Marko, an adviser for Red Bull, disclosed that his team is incapable of matching the highly profitable three-year contract proposal that Audi has presented to Sainz.
Sainz had previously collaborated with Sauber Motorsport CEO Andreas Seidl during his time at McLaren from 2019 to 2020. However, it is rumored that he wishes to maintain flexibility in order to explore potential opportunities at Red Bull and Mercedes, teams that offer greater chances of immediate success.
Sergio Perez, the current Red Bull driver, is set to reach the end of his contract in F1 2024. Meanwhile, there are ongoing reports suggesting that the reigning World Champion, Verstappen, might be enticed to join Mercedes and potentially replace Lewis Hamilton.
In the event that Mercedes fails to attract Verstappen away from Red Bull, Sainz would probably emerge as an attractive temporary option for at least F1 2025.
It is becoming more and more improbable for Sauber to keep both of their current drivers, Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu, for the upcoming season.
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