Nico Hulkenberg says his notion of Sauber will change if it turns into Audi from subsequent season, and he hopes to make use of his expertise to speed up the crew’s improvement.
Sauber have been a mid-table crew for a lot of F1’s historical past, and other than a sixth place in 2022, they haven’t completed larger than eighth within the constructors’ championship since 2013. It can change into Audi’s works crew subsequent yr following its acquisition by the German automobile model, and Hulkenberg stated it could deliver lots of consideration, even when the crew does not count on a lot change.
“For certain, the notion will change,” Hulkenberg informed RACER. “Being a producer and naturally being Audi, I feel there can be extra consideration on us and extra expectations, however we’ve got to be practical.
“I do not count on to win races from the beginning. We’re initially of an extended journey. I feel this can be a course of and the highest groups nonetheless have a giant benefit by way of infrastructure, factories and so forth. However we’re pushing.
“We hope to catch up, however definitely as a producer, our expectations for subsequent yr can be just a little completely different.”
Hulkenberg, 38, is among the most skilled drivers within the sport, having raced for Sauber in addition to Williams, Power India, Renault, Aston Martin and Haas, and can depend on his data to drive Audi ahead.
“I hope (the expertise) helps,” he stated. “As a driver, after all you might be anticipated to race onerous, drive quick and ship outcomes and efficiency, however you may as well contribute in different methods. In fact, technically, because the rules change, there are lots of new issues to be taught to be quick-thinking. I hope to have the ability to contribute to studying even quicker subsequent yr.”
“I feel it is a mixture of issues. Clearly expertise helps. You simply have extra data: completely different rules, completely different automobiles, how issues labored in several eras.”
“However it’s a mix of what you’re feeling, and clearly what the information measures, and what the engineers see. It is at all times only a work in progress. You drive it, you modify it, you take a look at it, you get outcomes, you get solutions, and you retain going like this, constructing the picture, constructing the data.”
No matter 2026 seems to be like, Hulkenberg admitted he feels actually proud to be representing a serious German producer crew in F1 at this stage of his profession.
“It is cool,” he stated. “I feel it is positively a possibility in a driver’s profession. It is clearly prior to now for different drivers, however for me, coming again with Haas in 2023 and getting that manufacturing unit drive at Audi is fairly loopy contemplating how issues have developed from there. I am very proud and blissful to be part of that and nonetheless be lively after 15 years within the trade.”
