Nico Hulkenberg & Carlos Sainz’s Potential Reunion at Audi F1 as German Signs New Deal with Kick Sauber

It’s intriguing how the F1 driver market works. Carlos Sainz’s F1 future has been uncertain for about three months now, ever since Lewis Hamilton announced the Ferrari move in February. On the other hand, Nico Hulkenberg, who wasn’t even in the news for moving anywhere else has suddenly announced his departure and made a move to Kick Sauber. Yet, there’s a possibility that both Sainz and Hulkenberg could reunite once again. 

Yes, the breaking news of the day is that Nico Hulkenberg, who made his F1 comeback with Haas in 2023 after being sidelined for a couple of years is now leaving the American team and moving to Kick Sauber, that’ll become the Audi Works F1 team from the 2026 season onwards. Hulkenberg raced for Sauber back in 2013 when he moved away from Force India. The German seems ecstatic to be driving for a team that’ll soon race under the German Flag, with a German-built engine.

As the announcement was made, Nico Hulkeberg said, “I’m returning to the team I worked with back in 2013 and have fond memories of the strong team spirit in Switzerland. The prospect of competing for Audi is something very special. When a German manufacturer enters Formula 1 with such determination, it is a unique opportunity. To represent the factory team of such a car brand with a power unit made in Germany is a great honor for me.” However, Carlos Sainz has been linked with Audi since the end of the 2023 season.

Now that Audi has secured a German driver, they’d want a lead driver who could propel the team in the right direction, and Carlos Sainz seems like an obvious choice. Even the Spaniard’s father, Carlos Sainz Sr, won the Dakar this year with the Audi team. While there’s no confirmation regarding Sainz’ decision yet, it is believed that the driver is in contract with multiple teams, and it’s up to him to make the choice. He’s reportedly rumored to have an offer from both Mercedes and Audi. 

If he does eventually sign for Audi, Nico Hulkenberg and Carlos Sainz, who were teammates at Renault, will be reunited. While that already sounds like a promising aspect, even Carlos Sainz Sr’s suggested how he wants his son to move to Audi. 

Carlos Sainz Sr on Audi in F1: “Just a matter of time before they succeed”

Carlos Sainz Jr was present at the Dakar celebrations to see his dad win the rally. The Sainz family is a very close-knit family where all the decisions are discussed internally. Sainz Sr. suggested that he has had open talks with his son about an Audi F1 future and that Audi is very serious about the F1 project. According to the veteran, it’ll only be a matter of time before they start winning.

Carlos Sainz Sr after his Dakar Win with Audi said, “We all know that Formula 1 is a special world, and I have a lot of respect for Audi. In my eyes, it’s just a matter of time before they succeed in F1. I don’t have a crystal ball, but the moment Audi decides to enter F1, they already command a lot of respect from me with that. Of course, it makes sense at Carlos’ house to talk about what Audi can get done, all the more so because I am a member of that Audi family.”

What do you think? Will Carlos Sainz be the one joining Nico Hulkenberg at Sauber that’ll become Audi?