Nico Hulkenberg is certain of why joining Audi ‘won’t be easy’ for Haas F1 driver

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Nico Hulkenberg is certain of the two reasons why joining Audi will ‘not be easy’ with the Haas Formula 1 star’s move to the German giant via Sauber in 2025 edging closer.

A chance to be a factory Audi driver ahead of the four rings of Ingolstadt making their Grand Prix debut proved impossible for Hulkenberg to reject. He agreed to sign a multi-year deal in April that will see the 36-year-old return to Sauber next season ahead of Audi’s full takeover.

Audi increased its stake in Sauber up to 100% in March to have total control over the Hinwil, Switzerland natives. The pair had initially joined forces in January 2023 when Audi bought a minority shareholding in the Formula 1 team that will then become its factory entry in 2026.

Nico Hulkenberg knows it will not be easy as a German driver for Audi in F1

Audi has never previously entered a team in Formula 1 and identified Hulkenberg as an early target with Sauber’s current drivers out of contract after 2024. The German was also only on a single-year deal for Haas for 2024, but has shown his worth with 22 points after 14 rounds.

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The challenge of being German along with the weight of being a works Audi driver is not lost on Hulkenberg, though. He believes the two facets will ensure the Emmerich am Rhein-born racer’s transition will raise difficulties that Hulkenberg has not yet experienced in Formula 1.

“It’s a big challenge, there’s no doubt about that,” Hulkenberg said, via quotes by Sport.de. “Going to Audi, a German manufacturer, as a German driver, there will be a lot of attention and high expectations. So, for sure, it won’t be easy.”

Nico Hulkenberg holds the record for the most Grand Prix without a podium

Hulkenberg is one of the more experienced drivers on the Formula 1 grid having debuted for Williams back in 2010. His career in the pinnacle of motorsport also features spells driving at works and privateer teams including Force India, Sauber, Renault and Haas with 220 entries.

But Hulkenberg also holds the record for the most Grand Prix entries without ever making a podium. His best finishes so far remain fourth place in the 2012 and 2016 Belgian Grand Prix with Force India plus in the 2013 Korean Grand Prix during the German’s one year at Sauber.

His best result in the drivers’ championship was also in 2018 with Renault when Hulkenberg took seventh place on 69 points. But his speed, particularly in qualifying, is a key part of the German’s skillset and he won the 24 Hours of Le Mans for Porsche in 2015 as a one-off race.