Nico Hülkenberg

Date of birth: 19.8.1987 
Nationality: German 
F1 debut: 2010 
Achievements: 7th place (2018)

After leaving Renault at the end of 2019, it looked like the German might be done with F1 for good. While he made a few substitute appearances for Racing Point and Aston Martin in 2020 and 2022, he lacked a full-time seat. That changed in 2023 when he made a permanent return with Haas, replacing Mick Schumacher.

His first season back was challenging, as Haas struggled with performance and tire degradation issues. Nevertheless, Hülkenberg consistently outperformed teammate Kevin Magnussen, reminding the paddock of his reliability and one-lap speed.

In 2024, Haas showed improved form, allowing Hülkenberg to score points on a more regular basis. However, it also marked his final year with the American team. From 2025, Hülkenberg joins Sauber—soon to become the Audi works team in 2026—signaling a major step forward in what could be the final chapter of his F1 career.