\n<\/p>\n
Nico Hulkenberg will join the Sauber team for the 2025 season before their transformation into the factory Audi team in 2026.<\/b><\/p>\n
The 36-year-old German is the first driver to sign for Audi as they build up to their debut season in Formula 1. Their other prime target is Ferrari\u2019s Carlos Sainz.<\/p>\n
Andreas Seidl, chief executive officer of Sauber and the Audi F1 project, said: \u201cWith his speed, experience and commitment to teamwork, Nico will be an important part of the transformation of our team.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hulkenberg, who previously worked with Seidl when he won Le Mans for Porsche in 2015, said: \u201cThe prospect of competing for Audi is something very special.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen a German manufacturer enters F1 with such determination, it is a unique opportunity. To represent the factory team of such a car brand with a power unit made in Germany is a great honour for me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hulkenberg’s decision leaves a vacancy at the United States-based Haas team, where he currently drives alongside Dane Kevin Magnussen.<\/p>\n
A leading candidate for that seat in 2025 is Briton Oliver Bearman, who races in Formula 2 and impressed at this year\u2019s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix when he substituted for Sainz<\/a>, who was undergoing an operation for appendicitis.<\/p>\n Bearman is a member of the Ferrari driver academy and the Italian team, who have close links with Haas, are keen for him to move up into F1 next season.<\/p>\n Hulkenberg made his debut in F1 in 2010 and has raced for the Williams, Force India, Sauber and Renault teams.<\/p>\n He was dropped by Renault at the end of 2019 and did a handful of substitute appearances from 2020-22 for the Racing Point\/Aston Martin team before returning to F1 full-time with Haas for 2023.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n