The newest domino within the Components 1 driver switch market has fallen.
A protracted-anticipated transfer has come to fruition, as Nico Hülkenberg will depart Haas on the finish of the present season to drive for Sauber subsequent 12 months. The rationale for the anticipation? 2025 is the ultimate 12 months for Sauber, earlier than the group turns into the Audi works group for the 2026 marketing campaign. This transfer confirms that the German outlet may have a German driver within the fold once they start the 2026 season.
In a put up on social media, the driving force acknowledged that he was “thrilled and honoured” to make the transfer:
I’m thrilled and honoured to return to Stake F1 Staff KICK Sauber in 2025 and to characterize the worldwide German automobile producer and know-how pioneer AUDI on its approach into Components 1 sooner or later. It‘s a giant undertaking with excessive ambitions and an enormous problem, a problem that I’m… pic.twitter.com/Gfrdk4NkCx
— Nico Hülkenberg (@HulkHulkenberg) April 26, 2024
“We’re very happy to welcome Nico again right here in Hinwil from 2025 and to compete with him in Components 1,” mentioned Andreas Seidl, CEO of Sauber Motorsport AG. Seidel will turn into the CEO of the longer term Audi F1 group. “Together with his velocity, his expertise and his dedication to teamwork, he will probably be an essential a part of the transformation of our group – and of Audi’s F1 undertaking.
“Proper from the beginning, there was nice mutual curiosity in constructing one thing long-term collectively. Nico is a powerful persona, and his enter, on knowledgeable and private degree, will assist us to make progress each within the growth of the automobile and in build up the group.”
It’s a twin homecoming of kinds for Hülkenberg, who drove for Sauber again in 2013, however will get to be a part of a German group beginning in 2026.
“I’m returning to the group I labored with again in 2013 and have fond recollections of the robust group spirit in Switzerland,” outlined Hülkenberg.
“The prospect of competing for Audi is one thing very particular. When a German producer enters Components 1 with such willpower, it’s a distinctive alternative. To characterize the manufacturing unit group of such a automobile model with an influence unit made in Germany is a superb honour for me.”
However what may this imply for the remainder of the grid?
Sauber presently has Zhou Guanyu and Valtteri Bottas within the fold, however each drivers are set to see their contracts expire on the finish of the 2024 marketing campaign. The remainder of the present season might be an audition of kinds, with the 2 drivers preventing for the opposite spot with the group. Nonetheless, at this level it’s probably that Sauber and Audi know what they’ve in each drivers, and will have their eyes on one other driver.
Carlos Sainz Jr.
With the information that Lewis Hamilton was leaving Mercedes for Ferrari subsequent season to drive alongside Charles Leclerc, Sainz grew to become one of many extra intriguing free brokers within the driver switch market. All he has achieved since then is carry out at a excessive degree, notching a win within the Australian Grand Prix and scoring podium finishes in each Bahrain and Japan.
When the Hamilton information was introduced, many believed that Sauber — and ultimately Audi — could be the vacation spot for Sainz. There’s a built-in relationship between the driving force and Audi, given the truth that his father drives for Audi in rally racing and have become the oldest winner of the Dakar Rally earlier this 12 months.
To that time Dr. Helmut Marko, addressing rumors that Sainz’s early-season type had made him a contender for a return to Crimson Bull alongside Max Verstappen, let slip that Audi had made a formidable supply for the driving force’s providers. Confirming to Austrian outlet Kleine Zeitung newspaper that Sainz was of curiosity, Marko then mentioned this: “We’re speaking to him, he’s having his strongest season in Components One,” the Austrian mentioned. “However he has a really profitable supply from Audi that we are able to’t match or beat.”
And the place may this transfer depart Haas?
With Hülkenberg off to Sauber, that leaves Kevin Magnussen as their sole driver, who can also be set to see his contract expire on the finish of the 2024 season. Assuming for the sake of dialogue that the group retains Magnussen for 2025, who may his subsequent teammate be?
A reputation to look at there may be Ollie Bearman. The 18-year-old Ferrari reserve shocked in his F1 debut this season, taking up for Sainz at Ferrari when an appendectomy sidelined him on the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. With only one hour of follow time within the SF-24 forward of qualifying, Bearman superior to Q2 and narrowly missed out on a spot in Q3.
Then within the race he completed in P7, holding off Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton within the closing laps for a shocking debut.
That spectacular efficiency led many to imagine Bearman had earned a full-time spot on the grid, and whereas the presence of Hamilton and Leclerc precludes a spot at Ferrari subsequent season, however Haas now has a spot obtainable. Bearman is ready to take part in future follow classes for Haas — together with at Imola subsequent month — and is a reserve driver for the group along with his duties with Ferrari.
Hamilton’s surprising determination despatched shockwaves by means of the game, and thru the driving force switch market. However Hülkenberg’s impending transfer to Sauber for subsequent season has generated some waves of its personal, and will lead to a younger phenom securing a full-time spot on the grid for 2025.