Nico Hulkenberg has expressed that his initial move to the Sauber Formula 1 team years ago was ill-advised.
Recently acquired by Audi as a full owner, Sauber has chosen Hulkenberg to lead its transition into a fully-fledged manufacturer's team from 2025.
But when queried by DPA news agency regarding any regrets in his career, he acknowledged his earlier stint with the team based in Hinwil "was not the best."
"Regret sounds so harsh and extreme," Hulkenberg commented. "But yes, there were one or two interesting team changes. In retrospect, the move to Sauber in 2013 was not the best.
"The first half of the season was extremely difficult. The change of teams for me did not bring what it should have. Force India, the team I left, was very good. If I had stayed there, my career might have taken a different course and I would have ended up somewhere else at the end of 2013."
Moreover, Hulkenberg, who has yet to achieve a podium finish after more than 200 grands prix, did discuss potential opportunities with Ferrari in 2013.
DPA inquired if he had ever asked Stefano Domenicali, the then Ferrari head and now CEO of Formula 1, why he was not picked by the legendary team.
"Not yet," Hulkenberg said with a smile. "He still just says 'we'll talk later'. So I don't know - I don't have a crystal ball."
Following 2013, Hulkenberg rejoined Force India, later switching to the Renault factory team. He exited the sport after the 2019 season but reignited his F1 career with Haas in 2023.
"In 2019, the air was a bit out of it. It wasn't as fun anymore," revealed Hulkenberg, now 37. "The lightness, the joy was a bit lost because the atmosphere at Renault was no longer as good. Maybe it was a dead end.
"I then drew my conclusions and said 'I'm leaving now and we'll see what happens'."
Hulkenberg's performance at Haas caught the attention of Audi, leading to his impending next move.
He anticipates a more fruitful experience with Sauber under its new management. "Hopefully more performance, a better car, a better package," he stated.
"Factory teams are bigger, they have more resources, more budget, more manpower. These are the ingredients that the top teams have, and Audi will have them too.
We then have to mix these ingredients well to make a good package and a well-rounded product."
With the benefit of hindsight, Hulkenberg feels more prepared for this stage of his career. "Experience is worth a lot," he noted. "I've noticed that especially since my comeback. I can draw on my experience - Fernando (Alonso) and Lewis (Hamilton) can do that even more.
"In today's Formula 1, we no longer have tests, there are fewer opportunities to practice - it's basically just the race weekends. If you don't find your feet straight away as a rookie, it's extremely difficult. If you then have two or three difficult weekends, you immediately have headwinds and pressure from all sides. But you have to perform and have speed. That's where experience helps Fernando, Lewis and me.
"With my comeback, I turned over every stone to find and get every ounce of performance out of myself," Hulkenberg explained. "I've also gotten older and a lot has changed in my private life with my wedding and child. This has given me more stability and, thanks to the break, I also have a different appreciation for Formula 1."
Though Sauber is currently the slowest team, Hulkenberg is ready for the challenge of 2025 and beyond. "Definitely," he affirmed. "But I've also proven that many times in Formula 1.
"Now I'll be flying the German flag high and will be an ambassador for the Audi brand, which is active globally. No matter which country we go to or which race, Audi is present in every market and in every country. That means you have a different presence and responsibility."
