Nico Hulkenberg is close to penning a long-term deal with Audi to commence from the 2025 Formula 1 season, according to growing reports in the German media.
Audi announced last month that it will complete a 100% takeover of the Swiss outfit as it presses ahead with plans to construct an engine for the revised regulations.
Hulkenberg’s status as the sole German on the current grid has seen him viewed as a viable fit for the German outfit as it prepares to venture into F1 for the first time.
Hulkenberg has impressed since his return to the sport last term and has capitalised on Haas’ resurgence this campaign to score points in three of the opening races.
However, Hulkenberg’s contract expires at the end of the current season and it has been touted that he will switch to the Sauber team in time for its transition to Audi.
Sport1 writes that Hulkenberg has agreed to align his career with Audi’s nascent F1 operation and will move to Sauber in 2025 prior to the brand’s gradual acquisition.
The report has said that Hulkenberg’s signature is the single thing remaining to complete the deal and that an announcement could be made at the end of next month.
Speaking in Japan about his future prospects, Hulkenberg said: “I think it’s still kind of early doors in the season, but I think balls have started rolling in different places.
“I think it’s [a] pretty interesting couple of weeks ahead. But personally, I’m in no big rush, you know, that I need to have it done tomorrow.”
Sauber Team Representative Alessandro Alunni Bravi revealed in China last weekend that Audi’s budding presence will ensure it has an active role in the driver market.
Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has divulged that Carlos Sainz, who will depart Ferrari to facilitate Lewis Hamilton’s arrival, has a “lucrative” Audi proposal on the table.
But despite reports that Audi is determined to receive an answer from the Spaniard in the coming weeks, Sainz looks set to wait on Red Bull and Mercedes’ decisions.
Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner has confirmed that incumbent Sergio Perez is in “pole position” to retain his drive amid an impressive start to this campaign.
Meanwhile, Mercedes is assessing whether Andrea Kimi Antonelli, 17, could be handed an immediate promotion, with the Italian completing a testing outing last week.
While Sainz’s future remains in the balance, it seems a matter of time until Hulkenberg has traded Haas to return to the Hinwil-based side he represented back in 2013.
Sport1 has documented that Hulkenberg, 35, could be all but guaranteed a long-term place within Audi’s ranks with a deal that would comprise an initial three seasons.
Providing Audi’s reported deals herald the green light from both Hulkenberg and Sainz, Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu will be left without a seat heading into next year.
