Nico Hulkenberg has remained coy on a potential switch to Sauber’s Formula 1 team in 2025 ahead of the group’s transition into Audi.
The German had been on the sidelines since being axed by Renault in 2019, except for a few deputy appearances for the Silverstone-based squad currently run as Aston Martin.
But Haas’ decision to axe Mick Schumacher and search for an experienced partner alongside Kevin Magnussen saw Hulkenberg receive his long-awaited F1 reprieve in 2023.
However, Haas experienced a challenging season that witnessed the side only score one point in the last 13 rounds, slipping to last in the Constructors’ Championship.
“The development of the car fell short of expectations,” Hulkenberg told Auto Motor und Sport. “At the beginning of the season we were still there. But then we couldn’t find any lap times, especially on the aerodynamic side. And that broke our necks at the end of the season. That’s why we’re last.
“Of course I didn’t expect us to finish in the points every weekend. But I had already calculated a little more.”
The season started encouragingly for Haas with a total of 11 points from the first five rounds, including a fine seventh-place finish for Hulkenberg in the Australian Grand Prix.
But that would transpire to be the only grand prix top-10 finish of his comeback campaign as Haas became restricted by a car concept that had reached its development ceiling.
Despite unveiling an upgrade package in the closing rounds that embraced the downwash sidepod solution pioneered by Red Bull, the American outfit’s struggles continued.
Hulkenberg, who switched back to the old-spec VF-23 for the last two rounds, says it felt “sobering” when he realised Haas’ updates hadn’t delivered the expected gains.
“We have to be honest with ourselves and admit that it doesn’t meet our needs if we put so much work into converting the car and then the end result is almost the same,” he added. “It’s our job to do better next year.”
While Hulkenberg was able to advance to Q3 in qualifying eight times across the season, both Haas drivers were thwarted in race trim by excessive trouble with tyre degradation.
But Hulkenberg takes “no consolation” from Ferrari solving its own tyre wear issues amid the technical partnership that sees the Italian marque supply non-listed parts to Haas.
“I do not praise the day before the evening,” he outlined. “Let’s wait and see what happens next year.”
Asked to pinpoint the cause of Haas’ troubles, Hulkenberg noted: “There are several things that come into play – size of the team, budget, infrastructure, the quality of the people.”
Haas has retained its current driver pairing for another season, but Hulkenberg will have options to head elsewhere for 2025 and he has been touted as a potential Audi option.
Audi will arrive in F1 for the first time ever in 2026 as part of a strategic collaboration with the Sauber team that will also see the German marque develop its own engine.
Pressed on whether Sauber was a realistic proposition beyond next season ahead of the side’s evolution into a works Audi entry, Hulkenberg answered: “Only time will tell.
“Let’s see how the season goes next year. Do we have a competitive car? Which people are recommended for which tasks?
“I can’t answer with confidence now. We probably have to position ourselves a little differently internally so that the same thing doesn’t happen again.”
