Formula 1 driver Nico Hulkenberg has signed with Kick Sauber on a multi-year contract, with the German star confirming he will leave Haas at the end of the season.
The 36-year-old veteran, who joined Haas at the beginning of last year, will return to the team he previously represented in 2013.
In 2026, when comprehensive new Formula 1 regulations are introduced, German manufacturer Audi will take over the Sauber-run Formula 1 team that currently operates under the Stake moniker.
“The prospect of competing for Audi is very special,” Hulkenberg said in a statement.
“When a German manufacturer enters Formula 1 with this design, it is a unique opportunity. For the factory team to represent this car brand with a power unit made in Germany is a great honor for me.
Every practice, qualifying session and race from the 2024 FIA Formula One World Championship™ live in 4K. Are you new to Kayo? Start your free trial today >
Hulkenberg made his Formula 1 debut in 2010, representing Force India, Sauber and Renault before a three-year hiatus following the 2019 season.
He returned to the F1 paddock last year, partnering Kevin Magnussen at Haas and scoring nine of the team’s 12 points in 2023.
He has managed three points finishes in the five races of the season so far.
“We are very pleased to welcome Nico back here at Hinwil from 2025 and compete with him in Formula 1,” Andreas Seidl, CEO of Sauber Motorsport AG and CEO of the future Audi F1 factory team, said in a statement.
“With his speed, experience and commitment to teamwork, he will be an important part of the transformation of our team – and the Audi Formula 1 project.
“From the beginning, there was a great shared interest in building something long-term together. Nico has a strong personality, and his contributions both professionally and personally will help us make progress in developing the car and in building the team.
Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu thanked Hulkenberg for his contributions to the team over the past 18 months.
“He was a great team player and someone we had a lot of fun working with,” Komatsu said.
“His experience and feedback have proven invaluable to us in terms of improving our overall performance – a fact evident in both his qualifying and race performances in the VF-24 this season.
“There are a lot of races coming up this year, so we look forward to continuing to benefit from his input throughout the remainder of the 2024 season.”
Sauber drivers Valtteri Bottas and Zhu Guanyu, who represented the team in the past three seasons, are expected to leave at the end of the current season, with Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz, whose contract has expired, likely to join Hulkenberg in the Sauber/Audi team.
Meanwhile, Formula 2 star Oliver Biermann is the most likely choice to replace Hulkenberg at Haas, with the youngster making a strong case for an F1 seat when he made his debut as a substitute at the Saudi Grand Prix in March where he finished in the top ten.
