8. Nico Hülkenberg – Haas F1
Championship final position: 11th
Best Finish: 6th
Best Qualifying: 4th
Much like Gasly carrying Alpine on his shoulders, Nico Hülkenberg earned his spot in our top 10 by doing just that for Haas in 2024. A glance at his season stats tells the story: 12 point-scoring finishes -- including six in the last seven races, 41 points collected, compared to just 17 by teammate Kevin Magnussen, and a pivotal role in securing 7th place for Haas in the Constructors’ Championship -- just a few points shy of Alpine. And let’s not forget 10 Q3 appearances in qualifying, a remarkable feat in a Haas.
Always quick on Saturdays and showing consistent scoring ability on Sundays, 2024 felt like a true “back in business” season for the Hulk. Not long ago, it seemed like Hülkenberg’s F1 career was over, with the German sporadically appearing on the grid as the sport's go-to substitute.
Yet at 37, he remains one of the most experienced drivers in the field along with Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton. And like the seven-time world champion, Hulkenberg will embark on a new adventure in 2025, with Sauber welcoming the Hulk back to Hinwil as the leader of Audi's F1 project, a team that aspires to become a force to be reckoned with in Formula 1.
