Now that Nico Hulkenberg's transfer to Audi has been agreed, we take a look at the winners and losers of this move.
The 36-year-old driver has secured his long-term future on the grid, and the move has big implications elsewhere. First, let's look at the winners.
winner
Nico Hulkenberg
The first one is the obvious one, but it also gives us an opportunity to look back at the story of Nico Hulkenberg's comeback.
Two years ago, the German's career seemed to be heading down the same path as many other F1 drivers. He spent a few years in the reserves, then he quietly disappeared from the grid.
But Hulkenberg, disappointed after losing his Renault seat in 2020, was given a lifeline as Haas wanted an experienced driver after being burned by two previous rookies.
Hulkenberg made an almost instantaneous impact, and despite the limitations of the Haas car, his performance in qualifying saw his stock rise to the point where he was valued by brands like Audi.
The deal with Audi will reportedly take him over 40 years old, but for a driver who looked set to retire in a few years, it's a good way to end his career.
audi
The next clear winner was Audi, who finally made their selection after the longest preparation period in F1 history for the first season.
Just about every name in the world has been associated with the German manufacturer at some point, but Hulkenberg ticks a lot of boxes.
As a new organization, Audi is looking for drivers who can provide excellent feedback, and Hulkenberg's decades of experience will be of great help.
Being German has the added advantage of being German, and he has shown over the past few seasons that he is no slouch and with the right car can challenge for the top of the grid.
Only time will tell whether he will score the coveted podium, but Audi made a wise choice in signing its first driver.
german motorsport
Of all the major European countries, it is Germany where F1 appears to be on life support. While other countries have been trying hard to grab one of the 24 spots on the calendar, Germany has shown little interest in bringing an F1 circus to its city in recent years.
Of course there is a reason behind it. Germany is an environmentally positive country, so it is unlikely that the government would want to fund F1. There are also no German superstars like Sebastian Vettel or Michael Schumacher on the grid, and with Mercedes based in Brackley, there is also no full German team.
Audi's arrival and arrival of a German driver based in Germany could help change direction somewhat, and while it may not mean F1's return to Germany, it would at least be a welcome change that has been lacking in recent years. It should spark a lot of interest.
Oliver Bearman?
When one door closes, another opens and Oliver Bearman may find himself in the right place at the right time. Hulkenberg's departure means Haas will have at least one seat open next year, and with no obvious replacement lined up, could Bearman agree to it?
The reasons behind such a move are clear, as Haas will be the only Ferrari-powered team from 2026, while Bearman is a member of the Maranello academy. Given that his two seats at Ferrari are fixed, a few years at Haas will give him the experience he seeks.
Manager Günter Steiner has previously stated that they have no intention of going down the rookie route again, but Ayao Komatsu may think differently and Bearman's performance in Jeddah could challenge the young Englishman. Maybe he convinced me to watch it.
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loser
Valtteri Bottas and Chou Guanyu
What Hulkenberg's contract shows is that Audi doesn't think much of its current driver.
This is a valid point since neither team has performed miracles in recent years. Bottas moved on in 2022 and had a promising first year, but he only scored 10 goals in 2023 and will likely do even better this season.
Meanwhile, Zhou Guanyu has not been able to make a big impact since his arrival. He has scored six points in both of his previous full seasons, and other rookies have come in and done much better since then.
Both players are out of contract this winter and Hulkenberg's arrival means at least one of them will leave, but the most realistic scenario would be for both to lose their Sauber seats next season.
Theo Purchere
Oh, Theo. Another young driver is realizing the path to F1 is not fair.
Since 2017, five of the seven F2 world champions have driven in F1, and two who haven't happened to be recent winners.
2022 champion Felipe Durgovic is fast becoming F1's forgotten man after spending a season as Aston Martin's reserve driver, with a title no longer guaranteeing entry into F1. It proves that.
So when Pourcher won the F2 title last season, he probably knew he could miss out on a stakes spot.
He said as much at the FIA awards ceremony, suggesting there was some friction between driver and team.
“To be honest, I'm disappointed. I'm an F2 champion, so I've had good results in the past. I gave my best. The goal that the Sauber Academy told me was to win the championship. And I accomplished it.”
With Hulkenberg taking one spot in 2025, it's hard to see how Purschere will join them on the grid. If reports are to be believed, Audi are pushing for Carlos Sainz, and if that's the quality they're looking for in a driver, Pourcher doesn't quite fit the bill yet.
hearth
So far, the focus has been on what Hulkenberg can do for Audi, but there has been less discussion about what it will do for Haas.
Hulkenberg has been the better of Haas' two drivers since joining, so losing such an asset would be a blow to Ayao Komatsu's team.
Kevin Magnussen's contract ends at the end of the year and his future is uncertain, but this could give Haas the opportunity to make a bold and generous play for promising young rookie Oliver Bearman.
With Ferrari under contract for at least the next few seasons, Bearman's path to F1 is likely to be via a Ferrari-backed team, with only two teams away from the factory team (Stake and Haas ), Haas is the obvious choice for him.
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