Nico Hülkenberg has refused to rule out continuing his Formula 1 career beyond the age of 40, but the Audi driver admits he is not yet certain whether he wants to follow Fernando Alonso’s example and remain in the sport for longer.
The 39-year-old German, who is approaching the later stages of his Formula 1 career, has made it clear that retirement is not necessarily an immediate priority. However, he is also unwilling to commit himself to an extended future in the championship.
Speaking to the German Press Agency (dpa), Hülkenberg was asked whether he could imagine continuing in Formula 1 beyond his 40th birthday.
“It’s possible. But: anything is possible, nothing is mandatory. I don’t know if it will happen. I also don’t know if I even want it,” he explained.
His comments offer an interesting insight into the mindset of a driver who has spent more than a decade competing at the highest level of motorsport and is now approaching a potentially important crossroads in his career.
Hülkenberg leaves Formula 1 retirement decision open
Hülkenberg has been competing in Formula 1 since 2010 and is currently one of the most experienced drivers on the grid.
After spells with Williams, Force India, Renault, Racing Point and Haas, the German is now representing Audi following the manufacturer’s arrival in the championship.
His current contract runs until the end of the 2027 season, meaning he has at least another full campaign beyond the current season before any major decision about his future becomes necessary.
Fernando Alonso provides a notable example of what remains possible for experienced drivers. The Spaniard has continued competing at the highest level well into his forties, demonstrating that age alone does not necessarily determine when a Formula 1 career must end.
However, Hülkenberg is clearly not interested in extending his career simply for the sake of matching Alonso’s longevity.
For now, his position appears straightforward: he will decide when the time is right rather than allowing expectations surrounding his experience or age to dictate his next move.
Audi’s difficult first season requires patience
Another important factor in Hülkenberg’s thinking is Audi’s progress.
The German manufacturer is facing the considerable challenge of establishing itself in Formula 1 after taking over the Sauber operation. Expectations are high, but transforming an existing team into a competitive works outfit is a substantial undertaking.
Audi has experienced difficulties during its first season, and Hülkenberg currently has 13 points in the Drivers’ Championship.
Nevertheless, the German insists that progress should be judged over a longer period rather than through immediate results.
“Everyone always wants things to happen faster, ideally an update should have been available yesterday. But you have to keep the process in mind, the big picture, and the fact that we are facing a huge task,” he said.
The 39-year-old also acknowledged that Audi has already made encouraging progress despite the remaining challenges.
“A lot of positive things have happened since the start of the season. We have developed tremendously, but there are still many areas that need improvement.”
His comments underline the scale of the project facing Audi, with the team needing to improve its overall package before it can consistently challenge the established front-runners.
Hülkenberg says experience has changed his approach
While Audi’s development remains a major professional challenge, Hülkenberg also believes that his own approach to Formula 1 has changed considerably throughout his career.
The German admitted that the emotional highs and lows were much more pronounced when he first entered the championship.
Early setbacks could provoke strong reactions, while positive results often produced equally intense celebrations.
He now approaches those situations differently.
“At the beginning of my career, the emotional swings up and down were perhaps stronger. Now I celebrate the highs just as much as the lows, but not as intensely; I’m more on the same level,” Hülkenberg explained.
He even recalled some of the more heated moments from his younger days, admitting that frustration occasionally spilled over into physical displays of anger.
Asked whether chairs had ever been thrown around his team’s lounge, Hülkenberg responded with a smile: “Yes, sure, helmets too.”
It is a revealing admission from a driver who has experienced the frustrations of struggling teams, missed opportunities and the pressure of competing in Formula 1.
Could 2027 become a defining year for Hülkenberg?
Although retirement is not currently on the immediate horizon, the end of Hülkenberg’s existing Audi contract in 2027 provides a natural point for reassessment.
Much will depend on how quickly Audi can turn its investment and resources into a genuinely competitive Formula 1 operation.
If the team begins delivering stronger results, Hülkenberg could have an attractive reason to continue. Equally, another difficult period could influence his thinking about whether the demands of Formula 1 remain worthwhile.
For now, however, the German is refusing to make promises about what comes next.
His message is that longevity should be a choice rather than an obligation. With his experience still valuable to Audi, the coming seasons could prove important in determining whether Hülkenberg remains in Formula 1 beyond 40 or eventually decides that the time has come to walk away.
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The Judge, a nom de plume of an experienced F1 journalist and site founder with long-standing sources across the paddock. With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
