Nico Hulkenberg to Join Stake F1 for 2025 and 2026 Seasons

German Formula 1 driver Nico Hulkenberg has announced his move to Stake F1 for the upcoming 2025 and 2026 seasons, departing from his current team Haas F1 Team. The 36-year-old racer expressed his excitement about the opportunity to return to the team he previously worked with in 2013, citing the special significance of competing for Audi as a German manufacturer enters the F1 scene with determination. Hulkenberg mentioned that representing a factory team with a German-made power unit holds great honor for him.

Throughout his 208 career starts, Nico Hulkenberg has not achieved a podium finish but has been instrumental in elevating Haas F1 Team’s performance in the 2024 season. Having helped the team secure points in the first five races and improving their average finish, his contributions have not gone unnoticed within the paddock.

Looking ahead to 2026, Stake F1, under the leadership of Andreas Seidl, will transition to become the official Audi organization in Formula 1. Seidl, who serves as the CEO of Sauber Motorsport AG and the future Audi F1 factory team, expressed his enthusiasm in welcoming Hulkenberg back to the team. Seidl emphasized Hulkenberg’s speed, experience, and commitment to teamwork as key assets for the team’s transformation and the Audi F1 project.

At present, Valterri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu are the current drivers for Stake F1, with neither having secured points in the season thus far. The upcoming seasons hold promise for the team with the addition of Hulkenberg and the shift to representing Audi in the highly competitive world of Formula 1.