Given the market developments, Sauber is pleased to have anticipated its decision to sign Hülkenberg

Sauber unfortunately does not have a lot of reasons to be satisfied since the start of the season (10th in the constructors' championship), but the signing of Nico Hulkenberg is clearly one. At the end of the contract at Haas At the end of the season, the 37-year-old German preferred to sign with Sauber from 2025, an excellent way to become an official Audi driver from 2026 and join a manufacturer with which he shares nationality.

If the stable ofHinwil has been in serious sporting difficulty in recent months, and that this is unlikely to improve drastically in 2025, Hülkenberg hopes that Audi's official debut in less than two years will change the sporting situation within his future team. Still, if we analyze Hülk's transfer through the prism of Sauber/Audi, signing a driver in his early thirties at a time (April 2024) when many other good drivers were available on the market was quite risky.

Hulkenberg expected as a messiah

The tactic has in any case paid off since the German would undoubtedly have had a few more suitors as the weeks went by, and because his level of performance is not dropping.We've been pretty forward-thinking in the driver market this year, welcomed Alessandro Alunni Bravi, Sauber team representative. We tried to anticipate the market and I think it was a good idea and a good decision after what we saw in the second part of the season. Nico is qualifying well and that is a point that will be even more important in the future. We saw how crucial qualifying is in Formula 1 and he has those kinds of characteristics."

With considerable experience, including over 200 Grand Prix starts, the German will undoubtedly be Sauber's leading driver in 2025, and his technical feedback, experience and character could prove to be serious assets for Hinwil. "He is a direct man and we need people who express themselves clearly within the team, continues Alunni Bravi. We have many challenges ahead and there will be no politics, only hard work, and I think Nico can fit in well with the Audi F1 project."

What about the second seat now?

“At the same time, he has a lot of experience in Formula 1. And of course, having a solid foundation and an experienced man in the team will help in the early stages of the Audi F1 project. So I only see positive aspects about him. And we are delighted to welcome him to the team next year.” Sauber was therefore as quick to sign its first driver as it was patient to choose its second, the team newly managed by Mattia Binotto being the last (along with Racing Bulls) not to have yet a second driver for 2025.

According to Radio Paddock, three men would appear in particular in the match, two of them mainly. Valtteri Bottas, first of all, the Finnish multiple Grand Prix winner, has the team's knowledge and experience on his side, while Gabriel Bortoleto, protégé of McLaren en F2, has youth, passion and speed on his side. Behind this duo, Theo Pourchaire still hopes and Mattia Binotto confirmed that his reserve player is on the list of contenders, even if he seems to start from further back. Alunni Bravi specified that the decision should be made in the coming weeks.

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