The Formula 1 driver carousel is gathering momentum. With Nico Hulkenberg’s move from Haas to Sauber/Audi, the next domino fell on Friday. It is apparently almost certain who will inherit the German at the US racing team. Who will follow Nico Hulkenberg at Team Haas?
It is now clear that the US racing team needs at least one new driver for the 2025 Formula 1 season. The Dane Kevin Magnussen is also considered a shaky candidate, but it has not yet been officially decided whether he has a future at Haas.
Rosberg spills juicy contract details
The Hulk ditches Haas
Nico Hulkenberg’s recent announcement that he will join the Sauber/Audi project next year was widely anticipated by the F1 community. Reports from this website suggested that an agreement had been reached weeks earlier, although speculation centred on a potential partnership between Carlos Sainz and Audi.
Hulkenberg is an ideal fit for Audi, especially as they look to rebuild their driver line-up. He’s ready to either lead the team or, if circumstances are right, partner Sainz.
Leaving Haas F1 was a logical move for Hulkenberg given the team’s ongoing financial struggles. Gene Haas has stated his intention to maintain the ‘sub-contractor’ model established at the team’s inception, limiting the potential for the necessary investment to develop a fully equipped, permanent F1 facility.
After being replaced by Daniel Ricciardo at Renault, Hulkenberg spent almost three years away from F1 before Guenther Steiner persuaded Gene Haas to change his driver selection strategy.
Lance Stroll future addressed by Alonso
Hulkenberg officially departs the American team
In a statement to Haas F1, Hulkenberg thanked Gene Haas and Guenther Steiner for making his return to F1 possible. He pledged to maximise his performance in the remaining 19 races of the season.
Ayao Komatsu, the new team principal at Haas, acknowledged Hulkenberg’s significant contributions, particularly in securing points at races such as Saudi Arabia, Australia and China. He praised Hulkenberg’s team spirit and the invaluable experience and feedback he has provided, which has visibly improved the team’s performance.
The partnership between Hulkenberg and Audi is seen as a natural fit, combining a German driver with a German car brand and significantly strengthening Audi’s Formula One venture.
Since joining Haas, Hulkenberg has consistently outperformed his team-mate Kevin Magnussen, especially in qualifying, making him an attractive prospect for Audi.
However, the potential acquisition of Carlos Sainz by Audi raises questions. Dr Helmut Marko has stated that Red Bull could not match Audi’s offer for Sainz. If Sainz were to join Audi, he would replace Valtteri Bottas, who arguably has a broader skill set than Hulkenberg.
Bottas has demonstrated his ability, at times outperforming seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton. While Hulkenberg often excels in qualifying, Bottas has a more consistent and robust record in Grand Prix races.
Despite his strengths, a comparison between Hulkenberg and Bottas reveals that while Hulkenberg is an upgrade on Zhou Guanyu, Bottas offers a more versatile and experienced profile.
Mercedes to control Hamilton car setup in future
Hulkenberg’s replacement already lined up
It may already be clear who will be Hulkenberg’s heir. According to consistent media reports, there is at least one clear top favorite. This is said to be young Ferrari driver Oliver Bearman. A decision that would be logical on many levels.
The connections between Haas and Ferrari are still close. The US racing team sources its engines and other parts from Maranello. Mick Schumacher had already brought this connection into Formula 1. Since Ferrari itself has no possibility of offering Bearman a cockpit for the coming season, the place at Haas is literally an obvious choice for the Reds.
The 18-year-old Ferrari junior has already shown this season how precocious he is. On the fast and dangerous street circuit in Saudi Arabia, of all places, he was thrown into the deep end after Carlos Sainz’s short-term retirement. The teenager kept a remarkably cool head in the crash barrier jungle and drove the SF-24 to a sensational seventh place. More than just a small application letter.
In addition: After Haas under ex-team boss Günther Steiner distanced itself from rookie drivers after the bad experiences with the Schumacher/Mazepin duo, the new boss Ayao Komatsu is not averse to newcomers – especially if, in this case, it’s not just him The US racing team, but also the “big brother” from Maranello benefits from this.
Red Bull rejects Perez contract demands
MORE F1 NEWS: Sauber throws Bottas & Zhou out
The Formula 1 driver market is gaining momentum. The rumour mill is heating up, and more and more drivers are being linked to a move to another racing team. The current Sauber duo, Bottas and Zhou, are out of luck it seems as paddock whispers indicate they already have had significant decisions made for them.
Formula 1 is a challenging journey for each driver, and the paths of Zhou Guanyu and Valtteri Bottas are no exception. Despite coming from very different backgrounds, they found their paths converging at Alfa Romeo Racing, operated by Sauber Motorsport.
In 2017, Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team welcomed Valtteri Bottas as a replacement for retiring Nico Rosberg. During his tenure at Mercedes, Bottas played a pivotal role as a solid number two driver to Lewis Hamilton, contributing to the team’s constructors’ championship victories.
In 2022, Bottas made the shift to Sauber, influenced by…READ MORE ON THIS STORY
