Tag Archives: Audi

May 2, 2024 · 6:15 pm

Hulkenberg: Audi F1 team can be competitive “straight away” in 2026

Nico Hulkenberg says that Audi will have “a good opportunity to be competitive straight away” when it joins the Formula 1 grid in 2026.

The German is the first driver with a confirmed seat at the team, which will switch to full Audi identity after one more year in its current Sauber guise.

Hulkenberg, who drove for the Swiss outfit for a single season in 2013, believes that the new chassis and power unit regulations will give Audi a chance to get off to a flying start.

“It’s really difficult to tell, it’s really a white piece of paper,” he said when asked about his expectations for 2026. “And on one side, I think that’s good. It’s not a new team, but it’s going to be labelled a new team, because probably the know-how and advantage that current teams have, it’s wiped away a little bit.

“And it’s more of a level starting playing field for everyone. So, I think that offers a good opportunity to be competitive straight away. But expectations are always to be as successful as quickly as possible. I have no numbers for you on that.”

Hulkenberg says that the interim season in 2025 will give him a chance to find his feet at the team after over a decade away.

“It buys us some time, getting to know each other,” he said. “Still some faces I know from 2013, but also a lot of new faces.

“It’s still going to be a Ferrari power unit, so that’s not going to be foreign to me, but obviously to get to know the team, the infrastructure there, and then already try to help and steer certain things. But that’s then. Now I’m still pretty much in the season, and focused on what’s ahead.”

Although Hulkenberg achieved some good results with Sauber in 2013 he stayed for just a single season, reflecting the fact that it was not an entirely happy experience for him.

“It was obviously very different set of circumstances,” he said when asked by this writer for his memories of that year.

“I think the that with the team, everything was fine. It was only with one person, it was difficult. And that was the team principal, Monisha [Kaltenborn] at the time, which was a bit difficult, and a tricky situation.

“But everything else was fine. Every team I work with and race for I’ve never had problems with the team, with the mechanics, with the engineers. I’ve always enjoyed working with all the team members and working as a force, as a team, pushing for performance. So obviously now that’s quite different from back then.”

Hulkenberg leaves Haas F1 team to join Sauber and Audi

***Hulkenberg is on his way to Audi. Photo: @tinnekephotography***

Nico Hulkenberg is to join the Sauber Formula 1 team for 2025 and thus be a key part of the transition into full Audi identity the following year.

The German has long been linked with a future at Sauber/Audi, having previously driven for the team for a single season in 2013, when he scored points on 10 occasions and finished 10^th in the World Championship.

Hulkenberg is well known to Sauber CEO Andres Seidl, the pair having worked together at Porsche in 2015, when he won the Le Mans 24 Hours.

“The signing of Nico is the next milestone for Audi’s F1 project,” said Seidl. “With his speed, his experience and his dedicated teamwork, he will make an important contribution to Audi’s entry in 2026 as early as next year.

“Right from the start, there was great mutual interest in tackling a project of this uniqueness together. Nico is a strong personality, his determination and desire on a professional and personal level will help us to make progress both in the development of the car and in building up the team.”

Hulkenberg said: “I’m returning to the team I worked with back in 2013 and have fond memories of the strong team spirit in Switzerland. The prospect of competing for Audi is something very special. When a German manufacturer enters F1 with such determination, it’s 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.”

He added: “It‘s a big project with high ambitions and a huge challenge, a challenge that I am very much looking forward to. The conversations with Andreas Seidl and Oliver Hoffmann were very trustful, characterised by a lot of appreciation and mutual understanding regarding the common goals.”

Shortly before the Sauber announcement Haas confirmed that Hulkenberg will leave at the end of the 2024 season.

“I’d like to extend my thanks to Nico for his contributions to the team in the time that he’s been here with us,” said team boss Ayao Komatsu. “He’s been a great team player and someone we very much enjoy working with.

“His experience and feedback have proved invaluable to us in terms of improving our overall performance – a fact that’s clearly evident in both his qualifying and race performances in the VF-24 this season.

“There’s lots more racing to go this year so we look forward to continuing to benefit from his inputs throughout the remainder of the 2024 season.”

Ecclestone: Engine will be big challenge if Audi enters F1

Bernie Ecclestone says he will be happy to see Audi come into F1, but cautions that the German manufacturer will – like Honda – struggle to catch up with Mercedes.

Audi/VW continues to be linked to either a future co-operation with Red Bull, or the more likely scenario of an eventual takeover and re-branding of the Milton Keynes facility, as recommended by consultant Stefano Domenicali.

“It’s good if any of these manufacturers come in, it will be super,” Ecclestone told this writer. “But it’s difficult for them to come in with the rules that are already there, and a competitor of theirs that’s already been for four or five years with an engine, and then they’re going to come in. It will take them a couple or three years to catch up.”

Asked if he thought Audi would finally make its mind up about F1, he added: “The problem is the engine situation. I believe Honda thought it wasn’t a problem. I told them it would be…”

It’s long be said that Audi has been sitting on the fence because Ferdinand Piech – recently ousted as chairman of the supervisory board of the Volkswagen Group – did not want to deal with Ecclestone. However Bernie insists that wasn’t an issue from his side.

“I don’t have any problem, really. It’s nothing to do with me.”

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