Nico Hulkenberg is set to take on one of the most daunting challenges of his Formula 1 career as he re-joins Sauber for the 2025 season, just as the team transitions to the Audi project. However, the German veteran has no illusions about the uphill battle that awaits him, especially in a sport where the air of competitiveness is “very thin.” »
A New Era for Sauber, but Obstacles Remain
Returning to the Swiss team where he last raced in 2013, Hulkenberg admits that Sauber's current state is far from ideal. The team finished last in the 2024 Manufacturers' standings, with just four points to their name—a far cry from Williams, who finished ninth. Despite this, he believes the team's late upgrades, particularly their “Vegas update”, offer a glimmer of hope.
“Lately, you know, it's looked a little bit brighter,” Hulkenberg said, pointing to Zhou Guanyu's eighth place in Qatar and Valtteri Bottas' Q3 appearance in Abu Dhabi as signs of progress. “The Vegas update did something for them and put them on the right track, in the right direction.”
However, with Alpine and Aston Martin expecting to bounce back in 2025, Hulkenberg knows Sauber must give their best to avoid being left behind in the middle pack.
A New Teammate and a Rising Star
Hulkenberg will also have a new teammate in Brazilian sensation Gabriel Bortoleto. At just 19 years old, Bortoleto arrives in F1 after a meteoric rise through the junior categories, winning back-to-back Formula 3 and Formula 2 titles as a rookie. The young driver's departure from McLaren's young driver program paved the way for his Sauber debut.
“We always watch a bit of F2,” admitted Hulkenberg. “Winning Formula 3 as a rookie and now Formula 2 as a rookie is very impressive. I think it's been a while since someone's done that, so I think there's a lot of talent in there. A promising pilot.”
Bortoleto's youthful energy and recent success could serve as a necessary boost to Sauber's resurgence, providing a stark contrast to Hulkenberg's wealth of experience.
The Audi Project Profiles
The backdrop to Hulkenberg's return is Sauber's transformation into an Audi racing team, a process that comes with both opportunity and immense pressure. Audi's entry into Formula 1 has been highly anticipated, but the German carmaker will be under scrutiny to deliver results quickly in a fiercely competitive grid.
Hulkenberg's experience in mid-pack and backmarker teams could prove invaluable as Sauber struggles to find its feet during this transition period. However, the question remains whether the team's resources and development trajectory will be enough to close the gap to its rivals in time for Audi's official 2026 debut.
The Road to Follow
Although Hulkenberg remains cautiously optimistic about Sauber's potential, he is also realistic about the challenges. “It's going to be tough,” he admitted, emphasizing the need for meaningful work to compete in a crowded mid-pack. But with promising signs at the end of 2024 and the arrival of a prodigious talent in Bortoleto, the team could have the foundations for a brighter future.
As Sauber prepares to begin its Audi-powered journey, Hulkenberg's leadership and Bortoleto's raw talent could form a compelling dynamic. The question is: will it be enough to propel the team out of the doldrums and back into contention? For now, the German driver seems ready to roll up his sleeves and find out.
