Nico Hulkenberg is preparing for a return to familiar territory, but the German driver is under no illusions about the challenges that lie ahead with Sauber in 2025.
The 37-year-old is set to begin his second stint with the Swiss outfit, a team he previously raced for in 2013.
This time, however, the context is significantly different. Sauber is in the midst of transitioning into the Audi works project, and after a dismal 2024 season, Hulkenberg anticipates a “tough” return.
The Hinwil-based squad finished last in this year’s Constructors’ Championship, amassing a mere four points – courtesy of Zhou Guanyu’s eighth-place finish in the Qatar Grand Prix.
The team’s poor showing sets the stage for a demanding 2025 season, a fact not lost on Hulkenberg. Speaking to the media at F1’s season finale in Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, he acknowledged how F1’s fierce competition has evolved.
“I would not worry, but, you know, it’s a competitive sport, and everyone is pushing a lot,” he said.
Hulkenberg’s assessment is grounded in the reality of F1’s relentless development race. The German recognizes that the entire grid is striving for improvement, making it difficult for any single team to make significant gains.
“The air is very thin like we saw now,” he added. “Alpine is back, probably Aston [Martin] will come back, so yeah, it’s going to be tough and I think there is work ahead, no doubt.”
Despite the daunting challenge, Hulkenberg did find some cause for optimism. He noted the positive signs displayed by Sauber towards the end of the 2024 season, particularly after the introduction of a key upgrade package.
“Lately, you know, it’s looked a bit brighter,” he said. “It looked like the Vegas update for them did something and put them on the right track, in the right direction.”
Sauber’s Las Vegas upgrade did indeed bring notable improvements. Zhou scored the team’s only points finish of the season in Qatar, while Valtteri Bottas made it into Q3 at the Abu Dhabi finale, signaling progress.
Looking to 2025, Hulkenberg also touched upon the arrival of his new teammate, Gabriel Bortoleto. The young Brazilian driver joins Sauber after being released from McLaren’s Young Driver program.
Bortoleto’s recent achievements in the past two seasons have been nothing short of remarkable, with the 20-year-old winning the FIA F3 Championship in 2023 and the FIA F2 Championship in 2024 as a rookie in both categories.
Hulkenberg admitted to following Bortoleto’s progress in the junior categories.
“You always watch F2, you know, a little bit,” he said. “For sure, you follow that because that’s the future coming in, and yeah, congratulations to him.
“To win Formula 3 as a rookie and now Formula 2 as a rookie, it’s very impressive.
“I think it’s been a while since someone has done that, so I think, you know, a lot of talent there. Promising driver.”
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