Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu holds Nico Hulkenberg in high regard and is convinced that with the right car, the German could hold his own at the front of the field.
Hulkenberg, who has been a key figure in Haas' resurgence, will leave the American team at the end of the 2024 campaign to join Sauber as it transitions into a works Audi team.
The 36-year-old driver, a veteran of 217 Grands Prix starts, holds the unenviable record in the sport for the most races without ever achieving a podium.
Komatsu, who has worked alongside Hulkenberg for the past two seasons, believes such an unfavorable statistic belies the German’s talent and value, although he tempered expectations about the Hulk having world championship potential.
“Nico is a great driver. But I wouldn’t talk about the World Championship title. He doesn’t even have a podium to his name yet,” Komatsu told Auto Motor und Sport.
“Something like that has to happen step by step. After his first podium finishes and victories, a driver first has to prove that he can deliver these performances consistently.
“I don’t want to belittle Nico, but I can’t stand here and claim that he has the qualities of a World Champion when he hasn’t even been on the podium yet!”
The Japanese engineer was nevertheless quick to praise Hulkenberg’s abilities.
“Is he one of the top drivers in Formula 1? Absolutely!” he stated. “If he has the right car, he can definitely compete for podiums and victories.”
The Haas boss will miss Hulkenberg's contributions to the team.
"I love working with him," Komatsu expressed. "He always speaks his mind honestly and clearly, he pushes the team in the right direction. I will definitely miss Nico."
©Haas
Hulkenberg's move to Sauber-Audi represents a significant career change, with the German manufacturer set to enter Formula 1 in 2026.
While the Swiss outfit is currently at the back of the grid, the ambitious project, backed by a powerful brand, offers the potential for significant progress in the coming years.
The decision to leave Haas, a team that has shown signs of improvement this season, was not taken lightly by Hulkenberg.
However, the allure of a factory drive with a brand like Audi proved too tempting to resist.
"I don’t think so, to be honest," he said when asked if he regrets his decision. "I don’t see an opportunity anywhere in the top four teams for me. My mind and my consciousness is very calm and clear."
As Hulkenberg embarks on this new chapter of his career, the question remains: will the move to Audi prove to be a wise decision that propels him to the upper tier of the grid, or will it be a gamble that fails to pay off? Only time will tell.
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