Nico Hulkenberg confirmed as first Audi F1 driver after move from Haas to Sauber for 2025 confirmed

Nico Hulkenberg has been confirmed as Audi's first Formula 1 driver after Haas revealed he will leave at the end of the 2024 season.

Hulkenberg has signed a multi-year contract that will see him drive for Sauber in 2025, after which the team will be taken over by German manufacturer Audi for the 2026 season and beyond.

The signing of the 36-year-old German, who has impressed since returning to the grid with Haas in 2023 after three years without a permanent drive, confirms that either Valtteri Bottas or Zhou Guanyu will not drive for Sauber in 2025.

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In a statement released on Friday confirming the signing, Hulkenberg said: "The prospect of competing for Audi is something very special.

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"When a German manufacturer enters Formula One with such determination, it is a unique opportunity. To represent the factory team of such a car brand with a power unit made in Germany is a great honour for me."

Hulkenberg, who previously drove one season for Sauber in 2013, has also represented Williams, Force India, Renault, Racing Point and Aston Martin.

Sauber chief executive Andreas Seidl added: "We are very pleased to welcome Nico back here in Hinwil from 2025 and to compete with him in Formula One. With his speed, his experience and his commitment to teamwork, he will be an important part of the transformation of our team - and of Audi's F1 project.

"Right from the start, there was great mutual interest in building something long-term together. Nico is a strong personality, and his input, on a professional and personal level, will help us to make progress both in the development of the car and in building up the team."

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Hulkenberg was left without a seat in 2020 after three seasons with Renault, at which point he settled for a reserve driver role with Racing Point, who would then become Aston Martin in 2021.

He raced in four grands prix for the team across that period, stepping in as Sergio Perez, Lance Stroll and Sebastian Vettel each suffered illnesses.

His cameos were enough to convince Haas he was worthy of a full-time return, and the American-owned team's faith has been backed up with Hulkenberg having outperformed team-mate Kevin Magnussen since joining.

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Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu said: "I'd like to extend my thanks to Nico for his contributions to the team in the time that he's been here with us - he's been a great team player and someone we very much enjoy working with.

"His experience and feedback have proved invaluable to us in terms of improving our overall performance - a fact that's clearly evident in both his qualifying and race performances in the VF-24 this season.

"There's lots more racing to go this year so we look forward to continuing to benefit from his inputs throughout the remainder of the 2024 season."

Does Hulkenberg move open door for Bearman?

The announcement of Hulkenberg's move is the latest domino to fall in one of the most open driver markets in F1 history.

The 2024 season began with more than half the grid on contracts expiring this year, after the February announcement of Lewis Hamilton's blockbuster move to Ferrari had ensured there would be plenty of change in 2025 at the front of the grid.

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Fernando Alonso earlier in April committed his future to Aston Martin, but Hulkenberg becomes the first driver confirmed to be making a switch.

The most obvious consequence of Hulkenberg's move is that at least one of Sauber's current drivers, Bottas and Zhou, are set to be without a drive in 2025.

Given Audi are said to be hugely keen on having outgoing Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz in place alongside Hulkenberg in 2026, and would ideally sign the Spaniard a year earlier, it's possible that the team's line-up is completely changed.

Zhou's first spell in F1 appears likely to come to an end with the sport's first Chinese driver having failed to show major improvement in what is now his third season, while Bottas is also at risk three years on from his Mercedes departure.

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Hulkenberg's exit does ensure there will be at least one seat available at Haas, for which British teenager Oliver Bearman would appear to be a prime contender.

The 18-year-old Ferrari junior delivered an accomplished display when stepping in for the unwell Sainz at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, and is already scheduled to drive in six practice sessions for Haas this season.

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