Official: Audi announce Hulkenberg for F1 seasons 2025 and 2026

It is official: Nico Hulkenberg will drive for Stake F1 in the next Formula 1 season and will join Audi's works team in 2026. The announcement follows shortly after Haas announced that Hulkenberg will leave the US team after this year.

Audi announces Hulkenberg for 2025 and 2026

Hulkenberg has signed a multi-year contract with Sauber. This means he will compete for Stake F1 in the 2025 F1 season and for Audi in 2026, when the German manufacturer enters the premier class.

The 36-year-old German will oversee the transition to the new factory team, the Swiss company announced on Friday.

"The signing of Nico is the next milestone for Audi's Formula 1 project. With his speed, his experience and his dedicated teamwork, he will make an important contribution to Audi's participation in 2026 as early as next year," said Andreas Seidl, CEO of the future Audi F1 factory team.

"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," he added.

Hulkenberg is also looking forward to the new partnership. "The prospect of competing for Audi is something very special. When a German manufacturer enters Formula 1 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 honor for me," he said.