Until the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League, Audi’s inaugural Formula 1 driver for its factory entry may not be the one leading their project in the end. However, considering Nico Hulkenberg’s three-year hiatus from the sport, during which his career was in jeopardy, securing the Sauber/Audi seat for the next three years is a remarkable comeback story for the 36-year-old German driver.
Audi’s primary motivation seems to be the desire to have a German driver as one of the prominent figures in their works effort in 2026. With Sebastian Vettel and Mick Schumacher no longer on the current F1 grid as of the end of 2022, Hulkenberg is the best option for Audi in that regard.
Since his debut in Formula 1 with Williams in 2010, Hulkenberg has accumulated 534 world championship points and has participated in 208 races as of the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix. This experience makes him one of the most seasoned drivers in the sport.
However, Hulkenberg also holds the unfortunate record for the most F1 starts without a podium finish, and he is likely to break the record for the most Formula 1 starts without a win in Miami, on his 209th attempt. Nevertheless, this should not overshadow his qualities as a driver.
After his stint with Renault ended in 2019, Hulkenberg spent the next three years on the sidelines. However, he made cameo appearances in 2020, replacing Sergio Perez and Lance Stroll at Racing Point during the coronavirus lockdown. He also filled in for Vettel twice at the start of 2022 when the team transitioned to Aston Martin.
These cameo appearances solidified Hulkenberg’s reputation as a reliable driver who consistently scores points. He achieved a seventh-place finish in the 2020 70th Anniversary Grand Prix at Silverstone, qualifying a surprising third. He also finished eighth in the Eifel Grand Prix at the Nurburgring that same year, standing in for Stroll.
His performances as a substitute for Vettel in the early races of 2022 were not as successful, but Hulkenberg did outqualify regular driver Stroll in the Bahrain GP and outperformed him in the subsequent Saudi Arabian GP.
These achievements earned Hulkenberg a second chance in Formula 1 when he was signed by Haas for the 2023 season. Haas decided to rely on his experience after growing impatient with Schumacher. Hulkenberg is not the only driver to have taken a break from F1 and returned in recent years. Daniil Kvyat, Kevin Magnussen, and Fernando Alonso have also done the same.
Among these drivers, Alonso has made the most of his second opportunity. After a disappointing stint with McLaren in 2019, he took a two-year break from F1 and ventured into other racing disciplines. Alonso won the Le Mans 24 Hours for the second time with Toyota and participated in the Dakar Rally. Now, he is performing exceptionally well with Aston Martin, achieving podium finishes and challenging the top teams.
Hulkenberg, a Le Mans 24 Hours winner with Porsche in 2015, had a more modest return to F1 in 2023, with only one points finish in Australia. However, he has started the current season strongly, securing three points finishes despite Haas finishing last in the 2023 constructors’ championship.
Hulkenberg’s comeback to F1 may not have garnered as much attention as Alonso’s, but his opportunity to join Audi for a second factory stint is a fitting end to his redemption arc. When he entered F1 in 2010, he was highly regarded, and the prospect of him signing with a major manufacturer team would not have been surprising. However, his lack of racing from 2020 to 2022 made his current opportunity with Audi unexpected.
Returning to F1 after a year away is no easy feat. Kvyat’s experience serves as an example, as he lost his Toro Rosso seat in 2017 and returned for a two-year spell in 2019 and 2020 without securing a major opportunity. Hulkenberg’s time away from the sport has been beneficial for him, but his chance with Audi did not simply fall into his lap.
Hulkenberg and Audi both find themselves in the right place at the right time. With Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari shaking up the driver market for 2025, Audi has secured an experienced driver who may finally fulfill his potential.