Nico Hülkenberg is preparing to leave Haas but predicts a bright future for the American team, which will welcome Frenchman Esteban Ocon next year.
Nico Hülkenberg is set to leave Haas at the end of the season to join the Sauber/Audi project, but he remains convinced that his former team could play a major role in the future of Formula 1.
The German driver, with his experience, recently declared that Haas will be “a serious competitor” in the coming seasons, a statement that could excite the team’s future drivers, Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman.
A promising duo at Haas
Esteban Ocon, who is having a complicated season at Alpine, will have the opportunity to bounce back with Haas. By joining the American team, he hopes to find a car capable of competing in the middle of the pack. As for young Oliver Bearman, considered a rising star, he could bring new energy to the team.
Hülkenberg’s departure opens the door to this new era for Haas, which seems to be preparing for new challenges.
“The team is very well organized today” Hülkenberg said in an interview with Autosport.
I think it’s an organization that works and I think we’ve proven that to some extent this year with the changes that took place over the winter.”
A beneficial reorganization
Haas experienced a significant upheaval last winter with the appointment of Ayao Komatsu as team principal, replacing Günther Steiner, an emblematic figure of the team since its creation. This change surprised some observers, but it appears to have had a positive impact on the team’s performance.
At the start of the season, expectations were modest for Haas, especially after a disappointing 2023 season where the team finished in last place in the constructors’ standings. However, against all odds, Haas was able to do well this year, climbing to seventh place in the championship, just three points behind Racing Bulls. This performance surprised many analysts, and Hülkenberg sees even more potential for the future.
Haas on the way to 2025
Hülkenberg revealed that he had heard of “exciting projects” for the future of Haas, especially for the 2025 F1 season. According to him, these developments should allow the team to fight for even higher positions in the coming seasons.
“I think Haas will be a serious competitor in the years to come, especially next year with the stability of the regulations” he said.
This regulatory stability could allow the team to consolidate its achievements and capitalize on the technical advances made this year. With talented drivers like Ocon and Bearman on board, Haas could well be one of the surprises of the seasons to come. The team’s long-term strategy and investments made in recent years appear to be paying off, and Hulkenberg has no doubt that Haas can climb the F1 hierarchy.
So, although Hülkenberg is leaving the team for new horizons, his optimism about the future of Haas suggests better days for the American team.
