Former Haas boss draws concerns about Nico Hulkenberg’s Audi F1 move
Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner gave his thoughts about Nico Hulkenberg's move to Audi in 2026. The 59-year-old suggested that the German Formula 1 driver might be seen as a temporary solution to Audi's launch into the world of Formula 1.
Audi are set to buy Swiss team Kick Sauber ahead of the 2026 season and Hulkenberg will join them in 2025.
The 36-year-old's former boss at Haas Guenther Steiner expressed his concerns about the move to German outlet Bild. Steiner said that he hoped Hulkenberg didn't do all the hard work before being replaced by a popular driver when the situation was good at Kick Sauber under Audi.
"For Nico's sake, I hope that he doesn't do all the backbreaking work and then, when things go well, is replaced by a superstar who settles into the nest he has made," Steiner told Bild as quoted by Planet F1.
Recent reports in the German media suggest the move to Kick Sauber under Audi ownership will secure Nico Hulkenberg a lucrative contract worth €5 million per year, which is a significant increase from his reported €2 million annual salary at Haas.
Kevin Magnussen on Nico Hulkenberg's replacement at Haas
With Nico Hulkenberg leaving for Kick Sauber in 2025, it's yet to be determined who will replace him at Haas.
The team's driver Kevin Magnussen recently spoke about the situation and said that he hoped Hulkenberg's replacement would "competent, professional and consistent" like him.
"I'm not really here to take care of young kids. I do that at home. Hopefully, the guy we'll have in the car will be competent, professional, and consistent, like Nico has been. We'll see if I'll be in the other car," Magnussen said.
"Honestly, I thought it would be me and Nico again next year, but I thought that would be likely. Obviously, he’s taken the opportunity with Sauber and Audi, which I wish him all the best with that," he added.
Nico Hulkenberg is currently 13th in the Drivers' standings for this season's Formula One World Championship with just six points to his name. The German has completed every race so far, with his best finish being ninth at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. He finished 11th in the recently-concluded Miami Grand Prix.
Hulkenberg's Haas teammate Kevin Magnussen is a few spots below him at 16th. The Dane's best finish so far at the 2024 Formula One World Championship is tenth at the Australian Grand Prix. He finished 19th in Miami.
Haas are currently seventh in the Constructors' standings with seven points to their name. Hulkenberg and Magnussen will next race at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix in Italy.