Nico Hülkenberg has suggested he could remain with Audi beyond his current Formula 1 contract despite a challenging first half of the 2026 season.
The experienced German insists Audi’s performances have been stronger than the championship standings indicate and says he would be open to continuing with the project for “quite some time” if the conditions remain right.
The 38-year-old arrived at the Hungarian Grand Prix having endured a frustrating run without points, prompting speculation over whether Audi could reconsider his future despite his contract running until the end of the 2027 season. Those rumours were quickly dismissed by both Hülkenberg and the team, before the German finally broke his points drought with a ninth-place finish in Budapest.
Hülkenberg insists Audi’s results do not reflect its true performance
Speaking to Sport Bild, Hülkenberg argued that Audi’s progress has been significantly better than the Formula 1 standings suggest.
“There’s a huge discrepancy between what you see there and what actually happened on the track and where we stand as a team,” he said.
According to Hülkenberg, Audi has missed several opportunities to score points throughout the opening 11 races of the season, leaving the team looking less competitive on paper than it has actually been.
“Looking at the standings, you think: What a load of rubbish. But when you go through the individual races and see the overall picture, it feels quite clear.”
His ninth-place finish at the Hungarian Grand Prix finally rewarded the progress he believes the team has been making behind the scenes before Formula 1 entered its summer break.
Audi driver responds to contract extension question
Hülkenberg’s current agreement keeps him at Audi until the end of the 2027 campaign, but he was asked whether he could imagine still racing for the manufacturer in 2030.
Rather than dismissing the possibility, the veteran indicated that extending his stay is not out of the question.
“Never say never, but it’s far too early to think about that. I’m in the here and now, taking it year by year,” Hülkenberg explained.
“As long as I’m having fun, the stopwatch is accurate, and the team wants me, I’ll drive for Audi. I can imagine that continuing for quite some time.”
His comments come after recent speculation suggested Audi could already be evaluating alternative driver options following the team’s difficult start to the year.
Audi’s long-term Formula 1 project remains the priority
Despite the discussion surrounding his future, Hülkenberg stressed that his immediate focus is on helping Audi establish itself as a competitive Formula 1 team rather than looking beyond his current contract.
“For me, the only thing that matters right now is that we are moving in the right direction with the project. We are doing that. The rest will follow.”
Audi has invested heavily in its Formula 1 programme and continues to view 2026 as part of a longer-term development plan under the sport’s new technical regulations. While the results have not yet matched expectations, Hülkenberg’s latest comments underline his belief that the project is progressing in the right direction and that both driver and team remain committed to building towards future success.
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Alex Stanton is a Formula 1 journalist at TJ13 with a focus on the financial and commercial dynamics that underpin the sport. Alex contributes reporting and analysis on team ownership structures, sponsorship trends, and the evolving business model of Formula 1.
At TJ13, Alex covers topics including manufacturer investment, cost cap implications, and the strategic direction of teams navigating an increasingly complex financial environment. Alex’s work often examines how commercial decisions translate into on-track performance and long-term competitiveness.
With a strong interest in the intersection of sport and business, Alex provides context around Formula 1’s global growth, including media rights, expansion markets, and manufacturer influence.
Alex’s reporting aims to explain the financial realities behind headline stories, helping readers understand how money, governance, and strategy shape the competitive order in Formula 1.
