Nico Hulkenberg admits that he was initially shocked by Audi’s decision to part ways with Sauber CEO Andreas Seidl and board chairman Oliver Hoffmann, two figures “closely involved” in convincing the German driver to join the manufacturer’s F1 project.
While there were rumors of a dissension among Sauber’s top brass, Audi announced this week that both protagonists – Seidl and Hoffmann – were given their marching orders, with former Ferrari F1 boss Mattia Binotto appointed as the new chief architect of the Ingolstadt firm’s F1 efforts.
This unexpected decision came almost two years after Audi's initial announcement – at the 2022 Belgian GP – of its entry into F1 and amidst a prolonged period of struggles for Sauber which remains the only team on the grid that has yet to score a championship point.
As Audi/Sauber’s first confirmed driver for 2025, Hulkenberg was asked whether he was concerned by the sudden shake-up and the risks of instability setting in at Hinwil.
"No, not concerned," said the Haas driver, speaking in Spa ahead of this weekend’s round of racing in Belgium.
"Now that was obviously a bit of a wave, a bit of a shock. But now it's back to business. I still look forward to join their project and make it a successful story with Audi.
"The fact that two people that were closely involved in signing me are not there anymore is of course maybe a bit sad.
"But I am more interested about the project, joining Formula 1 with Audi and making it a successful story."
Former Sauber CEO Andreas Seidl on the grid in Austria with Sauber engineer Xevi Pujolar.
Hulkenberg said that he was brought up to speed by Audi CEO Gernot Dollner on the day of the announcement, adding that he was well acquainted with Binotto although he has never worked with the Italian.
"Obviously kind of an unexpected change. I was informed about the group's decision on the day of the announcement, by Gernot Dollner [Audi CEO] himself,” he added.
"That's the group's decision, that they want to change moving forward. I think big projects like this, you have obviously in the management people that are big pillars of such projects.
"But they never just rely on one or two persons. In F1 everyone is kind of changeable.
"In terms of Mattia, I know him obviously from the past from the paddock, but I've never worked with him. That will change in a few months."
Hulkenberg believes that this week’s events, if anything, prove that Audi’s management has been closely monitoring its F1 project and Sauber’s affairs, something the 36-year-old viewed as a positive.
"They are aware, they are involved,” he said. “The fact that they take action means that they are very much involved and invested in it and hands-on. And that's good and positive news."
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