Nico Hulkenberg has admitted that Andreas Seidl’s involvement as Sauber’s Formula 1 CEO was instrumental in his move to the team in 2025 prior to Audi’s takeover.
Sauber announced earlier this month that it had signed Hulkenberg on a multi-term deal as Audi ramps up its preparations to enter F1 when new regulations come in.
The German completed a comeback to F1 with Haas last season, but he will return to Sauber and reunite with Seidl, who is tasked with overseeing the Audi transition.
Seidl headed Porsche’s LMP1 entrant in 2015 when Hulkenberg won the prestigious Le Mans 24 Hours, with the former then moving into F1 to front McLaren in 2019.
Hulkenberg has revealed that he retained contact with the German, 48, and even enquired about a spot at McLaren when he was left without a full-time drive for 2020.
Asked whether Seidl had been a vital connection in his decision to trade Haas for Sauber and the Audi venture next season, Hulkenberg answered: “Probably, yes.
“Because, I mean, he’s also the driving factor there, one of the sliders, one of the top key people in the management at Audi.
“So, of course, it came through him, and he’s a very direct and straightforward guy with me.
“I remember 2020, when it was COVID, before the season started, and I was not sure what I wanted to do, but I remember phoning him up and seeing, and he was at McLaren, obviously, at the time. I was like, ‘Andy, how’s it looking? Is there maybe a chance for me?’ And he was like, straight, ‘no, don’t even get your hopes up. It’s not going to happen’.
“This time around, two years later, it was very different, and he was very keen to sign, to have me.”
Hulkenberg has detailed that Seidl and Audi’s desire to become certified contenders at the sharp end once the marque arrives in 2026 was an attractive proposition.
“I mean, they obviously, like all the teams here, they have a plan,” he explained. “Obviously, they have big ambitions. It’s a huge project with huge ambitions.
“Racing for a manufacturer, there’s always a lot of expectations, naturally. But, yeah, they’re pushing, like the top teams do too.”
Having accumulated over 200 starts to his name during three stints in F1, Hulkenberg believes that his wholesale experience was one attribute that Audi cherished.
“I think they value my experience, probably my judgment, my feeling for set-up in the car, finding that, for pushing the team on development,” he acknowledged.
“Of course, it’s also a big opportunity for me, but also a lot of expectations and a huge job to deliver there.”
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