Nico Hulkenberg is set to join the Stake team in 2025, which will transition into the Audi F1 team in 2026.
Nico Hulkenberg has been confirmed to drive for Stake, the team slated to become Audi’s official F1 team in 2026. The German driver will begin his tenure with Stake in the 2025 season, laying the groundwork for Audi’s ambitious Formula One project.
The German driver’s integration into Stake comes at a pivotal time as the team prepares for a major transformation under Audi’s stewardship. His role is set to be crucial not only as a driver but also in developing Audi’s first F1 car for the 2026 season.
Andreas Seidl, CEO of Sauber Motorsport AG and CEO of the future Audi F1 factory team, highlighted the importance of Hulkenberg’s arrival, stating in a press release:
“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’s relationship with the team, which began in 2013, along with his comprehensive racing experience, makes him a valuable asset in this new chapter. He commented in the same press release:
“I’m returning to the team I worked with back in 2013 and have fond memories of the strong team spirit in Switzerland. The prospect of competing for Audi is something very special. 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.”
Before confirming his future with Stake and subsequently, Audi, Hulkenberg had returned to full-time racing with Haas in 2023 after serving as a reserve driver for Racing Point and Aston Martin. His immediate impact was noted by his current team, particularly in the 2024 season where he delivered solid performances. Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu praised his contributions in a press release from the team:
“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.”
It is currently unclear who will drive alongside the German driver next year. Zhou Guanyu and Valtteri Bottas are both in contract with Sauber until the end of this year.
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