There was a lot of excitement about Audi’s personnel change: Nico Hülkenberg is not even there yet, and yet he is already the constant – this is what the German says about the Audi quake
A good year and a half before Audi’s entry into the premier class, the Sauber team is currently in a state of upheaval: Andreas Seidl and Oliver Hoffmann are gone, Mattia Binotto is here – and with Jonathan Wheatley, another important personnel track for the future is already in place
It has also been clear since last week that Carlos Sainz will not be in the second Audi cockpit. The Spaniard has signed with Williams, so the search for a suitable candidate to take the seat alongside Nico Hülkenberg continues – so far, only the German has been confirmed for 2025 in the team.
But despite the loud background noise this summer, Hülkenberg remains convinced of his move to Audi: he heard first-hand about the big shake-up in the boardroom, with Audi CEO Gernot Döllner calling him for “about ten minutes” before the public announcement on Tuesday ahead of the race in Spa
Audi CEO Döllner called Hülkenberg personally
Hülkenberg wasn’t necessarily expecting the boss to ring through personally. “I don’t know how important that was, but it’s obviously nice, because it shows respect and how seriously he and the brand take it, that they don’t take it lightly,” explains the future Audi driver: “They pay attention, they see what’s happening and what’s going on – that was good, very good,” praises Hülkenberg.
Döllner “gave me an explanation, of course, that’s why he called me: He gave me a summary,” reveals Hülkenberg, who, of course, is keeping quiet about the exact contents of the call. However, the German is under no illusions that he has a lot of work ahead of him with the Ingolstadt-based Formula 1 project:
“It’s a big challenge, there’s no doubt about that. Going to Audi, a German manufacturer, as a German driver, there will be a lot of attention and high expectations. So for sure, it won’t be easy,” says Hülkenberg.
But he also clarifies: “My approach to the work, and its definition, will not change. I will go there with everything I have and try to contribute as much as I can in and outside the car. Because that’s what I love, and hopefully together we can make it a success story. “
“The framework is bigger”: reasons for Hülkenberg’s switch
The fact that he is a German driver signing on with a German manufacturer makes things “special in a way”, but was “not the decisive factor”, says Hülkenberg. Rather, the fact that everything at Audi has a larger framework: “I like this term: yes, the framework is larger – for better or for worse.”
Hülkenberg specifies: “In the bad, too, because if you don’t perform, the pressure is greater, you’re more in the spotlight. There will also be a lot more PR work there, for example, much more demanding on that side. But yes, it’s a great opportunity and the upper limit is higher!”
Higher than at Haas, too, where the 36-year-old has been experiencing his second career spring for two years – which is why his departure from the US team is not free of melancholy: “It always feels bitter … It usually feels bittersweet when you leave a team, because you build up relationships and in most cases enjoy working with the people,” says Hülkenberg, who says he had “a good time” at Haas.
Nevertheless, he is fully behind his departure: “But yes, it’s more about the big picture, about the future. I switched for a reason, there is a strategy and a reason behind it. That’s why it’s like this now,” explains Hülkenberg, who hopes to reach for the stars in Formula 1 with the four rings in the medium term.
