Nico Hulkenberg Departing Money Gram Haas for Audi: Potential Replacements Considered
Nico Hulkenberg’s Departure from Haas Racing Sparks Speculation on Replacement Drivers
The 2024 Formula 1 ‘silly season’ continues to provide thrilling spectacles as drivers and key figures, whose departures would have once seemed unlikely, have either announced their exits or hinted at them ahead of the 2025 season. The latest bombshell comes from Nico Hulkenberg, who has announced he will be departing Haas Racing and joining Audi for the 2025 Formula 1 season.
While fans debated the possibility of the Austrian team’s chief technical officer leaving, Money Gram Haas confirmed that driver Nico Hulkenberg would be leaving the team at the end of the season to join Audi for 2025.
Following the announcement of the 36-year-old’s departure, speculation has been rife about who could potentially replace Hulkenberg at Haas Racing. Among the list of drivers that the American Formula 1 team could consider are Oliver Bearman, Mick Schumacher, and Carlos Sainz.
Oliver Bearman, the 18-year-old Prema Racing driver, has emerged as a heavily rumored choice to replace the departing German at the Kannapolis team. Bearman made his Formula 1 debut with Ferrari at the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix and impressed with a seventh-place finish.
Mick Schumacher, another former Prema Racing driver and ex-Formula 2 champion, could also be a potential option for Haas. The German driver showed promise during his stint with the team and could offer valuable experience.
Carlos Sainz, the Ferrari driver who remains without a seat on the 2025 Formula 1 grid, could also consider a move to Haas if he is unable to secure a seat elsewhere. The Spaniard’s high salary and demands have left him without a seat for now, making Haas a possible option for the talented driver.
As the speculation continues to swirl, it remains to be seen how Team Principal Ayao Komatsu and the Haas team will go about filling the void created by Hulkenberg’s departure. The 2025 drivers’ market looks set to be an exciting one, with plenty of surprises still in store.