Nico Hülkenberg hopes that Sauber will make a similar leap over the winter as Haas did a year ago – he recognized a good base during his first test
On paper, switching from Haas to Sauber is a step backwards for Nico Hülkenberg in sporting terms. While he finished seventh in the Constructors’ World Championship with the US racing team in 2024, Sauber was beaten into tenth and last place.
The Swiss only managed to score points in 24 races (and six sprints) last year on a single occasion. Newcomer Hülkenberg is now hoping that this disastrous season will not be repeated in 2025.
“The Haas example shows that it is possible to make progress even in a short time,” the German said in an interview with auto motor und sport. In 2023, Hülkenberg and Haas had finished last in the Constructors’ Championship.
He is now hoping for a similar leap forward with Sauber. “I also believe that Sauber has already taken the first step in the right direction with the upgrade from Las Vegas,” says Hülkenberg, who has seen positive trends at his new employer at the end of 2024.
“That was a major correction,“ he says of the update in question, ‘and in the last three races, the car was clearly more competitive and closer to the field. That was also my impression in the test. The base is not so wrong,’ explains Hülkenberg confidently.
”80 new faces” at the test in Abu Dhabi
He was allowed to drive the C44 in the final test of 2024 after the season finale in Abu Dhabi. He took away “many new impressions” from there, said Hülkenberg, who had already driven for Sauber for a year in 2013, more than ten years ago.
However, he did not recognize “that many” faces from back then. “A team change like this isn’t just about a new car. At the race track, there are 80 new faces and new names to start with. And then there’s the car. At first, it always feels strange,” he admits.
“It takes a moment to get into it and feel comfortable. But the test was positive as far as it could be positive. It was valuable to get first impressions, get a feel for the car, just start working,” said Hülkenberg.
“Of course, there is still a lot to be done in detail and there are still some things to optimize. The direction is clear,” said the German, for whom 2025 is likely to be a year of transition anyway. The course is already being set in Hinwil for 2026, when the team will become an official Audi factory team.
“I’m looking forward to the challenge and am excited to see what the future holds. We’re getting a lot of reinforcements, with many capable people still to join the team,” emphasizes Hülkenberg, who finished his first season with Sauber in seventh place in the Constructors’ Championship in 2013.
He would certainly be satisfied with a similar result twelve years later.
