Nico Hulkenberg is headed to Sauber for the 2025 Formula 1 season. After Ferrari confirmed the signing of Lewis Hamilton in the winter, Hulkenberg became the second driver to announce a change of teams.
The German has penned a multi-year deal with the Swiss outfit that will take in the transition to Audi in 2026. His contract at Haas had been due to expire at the end of 2024.
Attention has now turned to the identity of his teammate. Audi could theoretically look to retain either Valtteri Bottas or Zhou Guanyu but neither option seems to appeal.
Their top target, going by all indications, is Carlos Sainz. Sainz is the victim of Hamilton’s move to Ferrari, with the Scuderia electing not to renew his contract.
Previous reports have suggested that Audi represents the most likely destination for the Spaniard, much as he may hold out for a seat at Mercedes or Red Bull. They’ve apparently given him until the Monaco Grand Prix to make a final decision.
They do have other options in mind. Alpine duo Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon are on their radar, as is out-of-contract Red Bull driver Sergio Perez, but Sainz very much appears the priority.
Nico Hulkenberg praises ‘great’ Carlos Sainz amid Audi interest
Speaking to German newspaper Sport Bild, via sport.de, Hulkenberg weighed in on the possibility of partnering Sainz once again. They previously raced together at Renault during the 2018 season.
Hulkenberg isn’t surprised to see him attracting so much interest. He won the Australian GP in March and has scored podiums in three of the five races he’s started this year.
If there is to be a reunion in 2025, Hulkenberg is expecting to face an even stronger version of Sainz. He’ll inevitably have ‘learned a lot’ in the past six years or so.
“Carlos is having a great season and is rightly being courted by many teams,” he said. “He was already fast back then and has learned a lot since then. But ultimately it’s not my decision who will be my teammate.”
What happened the last time Nico Hulkenberg and Carlos Sainz were teammates?
In an unorthodox situation, Sainz actually joined Renault at the end of the 2017 season. They’d already confirmed that he’d be joining from Toro Rosso, and they were able to secure an early release so he could get used to his new surroundings.
He would compete in Renault colours for the last four races of the campaign, and then spend the entire 2018 season at Enstone. His battle with Hulkenberg was extremely tight.
They finished level in the race-day head-to-head, but Hulkenberg shaded it in terms of points scored. He was also the faster driver over one lap.
Jenson Button feels we’re now seeing the best iteration of Sainz, energised by Ferrai’s rejection. Hulkenberg will turn 37 in August, so few would expect a repeat if they reignite their rivalry next year.
Natalie Pinkham expects there to be ‘fireworks’ if they do form Audi’s line-up. She’s warned the team against disrupting the harmony they’ve enjoyed with Bottas and Zhou.
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