Nico Hulkenberg has tempered expectations regarding his chances of securing a seat in a premier Formula 1 car for the 2025 season. The 36-year-old German has been notable since his return to Formula 1 with Haas, the grid's smallest team, last year. As his current contract concludes, there's speculation about a potential move to Audi's Sauber, buoyed by his past collaboration and camaraderie with Andreas Seidl from their time at Porsche in Le Mans.
Despite Sauber's future ambitions as a full-fledged works team aiming for race wins and championships by 2026, Hulkenberg remains realistic about his immediate prospects. Speaking to DPA news agency at Suzuka, he remarked, "There is very little hope for a top cockpit. Hopefully in the next life, but I don't think that's where the journey will go now," indicating a possible extension of his tenure at Haas, especially given the team's progress in 2024.
"It feels like being in another world," Hulkenberg shared, highlighting the team's competitive edge, "We can race on Sundays." The off-season saw Haas' owner Gene Haas replace Gunther Steiner with Ayao Komatsu, who has hinted at a potential increase in the team's budget for 2025. "Gene promised more money to me if you prove you are using the money you have efficiently," Komatsu conveyed to Auto Motor und Sport in Japan, adding, "It is up to us to give him the confidence that we are investing his money wisely."
For now, Hulkenberg remains a key figure in the 2025 driver market discussions, maintaining a focused and undistracted demeanor. "It's not a distraction," he insists, emphasizing his experience with contract negotiations, "If it distracts you, it's bad for you and bad for the business. You have to be able to separate life on the track and conversations about the future."
With the 'silly season' commencing unusually early and many drivers still unsigned for 2025, Hulkenberg acknowledges the dynamic state of affairs, "The balls are rolling in different places and there are a few interesting weeks ahead." Yet, he remains patient, concluding, "But I don't feel any reason to rush. The important thing is to stay focused."
