Hulkenburg to leave Haas...

[Smollet]

....to join Audi

[sandman77]

Not the most ambitious move by Audi.

[ralphrj]

Widely expected.

Bottas thought to be going in the opposite direction to partner Bearman at Haas next year. Magnussen back to Indycar probably unless both Ocon and Gasly walk from Alpine.

Audi obviously want Sainz so Zhou Guanyu is surplus as well.

[Supersam83]

Who is it to replace? Zhou or Bottas?

Also, I have seen that Audi are harassing Carlos Sainz Jr to join them for next year but he is waiting and looking at options at other teams before he commits to Audi.

This means that Oliver Bearman is soon to be confirmed to take Hulks seat at Haas.

[105.4]

sandman77 said:

Not the most ambitious move by Audi.

A safe pair of hands I’d say and a pretty solid choice. Plus do any of us really know what Hulk is like as a development driver? Maybe that was what swayed it?

[parabolica]

105.4 said:

sandman77 said:

Not the most ambitious move by Audi.

A safe pair of hands I’d say and a pretty solid choice. Plus do any of us really know what Hulk is like as a development driver? Maybe that was what swayed it?

If the plan is Hulk + Sainz, I'm not sure how Hulk is any better than Bottas from a development/continuity point of view.

I like Nico but it amazes me he is in F1; he's a solid journeyman (like others in the current field, inc Bottas) but no wins, no podiums and rarely bothers the top 10 in the standings at the end of the year. Good for him, I just don't understand it.

[sandman77]

105.4 said:

A safe pair of hands I’d say and a pretty solid choice. Plus do any of us really know what Hulk is like as a development driver? Maybe that was what swayed it?

Well none of the teams he has been in developed very good cars in his time with them.

[Sandpit Steve]

105.4 said:

sandman77 said:

Not the most ambitious move by Audi.

A safe pair of hands I’d say and a pretty solid choice. Plus do any of us really know what Hulk is like as a development driver? Maybe that was what swayed it?

Surely you’d want to keep Bottas as the development driver? Someone who spent five years with a team at the top of their game, and with race wins under his belt?

[Dingu]

sandman77 said:

Well none of the teams he has been in developed very good cars in his time with them.

We don’t know how much worse they would or wouldn’t have been without him. A driver can only do so much.

[C5_Steve]

parabolica said:

If the plan is Hulk + Sainz, I'm not sure how Hulk is any better than Bottas from a development/continuity point of view.

I like Nico but it amazes me he is in F1; he's a solid journeyman (like others in the current field, inc Bottas) but no wins, no podiums and rarely bothers the top 10 in the standings at the end of the year. Good for him, I just don't understand it.

Could Hulk be cheaper possibly than Bottas? Could free up some funds for Sainz maybe.

I kind of agree with your sentiment on Hulk as a driver, I'd say he's consistently been at the top of the midfield drivers and is a safe pair of hands in the same way as Bottas, but perhaps with Bottas out of contract anyway they took the opportunity to switch things up.

[Muzzer79]

sandman77 said:

Not the most ambitious move by Audi.

Nationality helps, I reckon.

Plus, a driver has to go through a year of Sauber before Audi kicks in and even then it's doubtful they'll be challenging for wins straight away.

Nico is dependable - knows which way the track goes and how an F1 car should work. Crucially, he rarely bins it too.

In short, just what Audi need whilst they're getting established.

[Muzzer79]

Notably, this will be the 8th iteration of a team that Hulkenburg has raced for

Williams
Force India
Sauber
Renault
Racing Point
Aston Martin
Haas
Audi

Has anyone else in the modern era raced for so many teams?

[vaud]

Muzzer79 said:

Notably, this will be the 8th iteration of a team that Hulkenburg has raced for

Williams
Force India
Sauber
Renault
Racing Point
Aston Martin
Haas
Audi

Has anyone else in the modern era raced for so many teams?

What is the modern era?

From autosport forums Andrea de Cesaris:

Andrea de Cesaris 10 : ALFA-Romeo, mcLaren, Ligier, Minardi, Brabham, Rial, Dallara, Jordan, Tyrell, Sauber.

[ralphrj]

Sandpit Steve said:

105.4 said:

sandman77 said:

Not the most ambitious move by Audi.

A safe pair of hands I’d say and a pretty solid choice. Plus do any of us really know what Hulk is like as a development driver? Maybe that was what swayed it?

Surely you’d want to keep Bottas as the development driver? Someone who spent five years with a team at the top of their game, and with race wins under his belt?

He has had 2 and a bit years to show how much knowledge he brings. If Sauber/Stake/Audi don't want him then it might be that they've concluded that he isn't all that (at least relative to his salary).

[TikTak]

Never really lived up to how quick he was at lower levels.

Very safe and dependable but not exactly exciting. Audi playing the percentages here and wanting some laps in the car early doors. Plus "ze German".

[patmahe]

I think this is a good move for Audi, Hulkenberg is known for being a good development driver, he won't be their megastar but he'll move them forward.

I don't see why Haas wouldn't take Zhao, his performances have been pretty good and the opportunities for sponsorship from China would be huge especially for a team of that budget.

Bottas deserves better than a Haas in my opinion but I guess where does he go unless a seat opens up at Aston and how would he feel about being a number 2 again. He could go to Alpine if something opens up, but would that really be a move forward, maybe if they sell to Andretti.

[thegreenhell]

sandman77 said:

105.4 said:

A safe pair of hands I’d say and a pretty solid choice. Plus do any of us really know what Hulk is like as a development driver? Maybe that was what swayed it?

Well none of the teams he has been in developed very good cars in his time with them.

That's not really the driver's fault though, is it. It could be that he made the best of a bad car. He's been teamed with several race winning drivers over the years and none of them did anything of note in the same cars, apart from a couple of podiums by Perez.

Anyway, he's pretty much cemented his record of no podiums with this move.

[8Ace]

Muzzer79 said:

Crucially, he rarely bins it too..

This is so much more important than it was few years ago. Nico is good at keeping it pointed in the right directtion.

Edited by 8Ace on Friday 26th April 15:00

[parabolica]

patmahe said:

I think this is a good move for Audi, Hulkenberg is known for being a good development driver, he won't be their megastar but he'll move them forward.

I don't see why Haas wouldn't take Zhao, his performances have been pretty good and the opportunities for sponsorship from China would be huge especially for a team of that budget.

Bottas deserves better than a Haas in my opinion but I guess where does he go unless a seat opens up at Aston and how would he feel about being a number 2 again. He could go to Alpine if something opens up, but would that really be a move forward, maybe if they sell to Andretti.

Plot twist, Fred was the one who convinced Bottas to move to Sauber, and with Newey on the market he goes full mega-chad and pulls off the triple by getting the old Bottas/Hamilton team back together with AN heading the design team and Ferrari's golden boy sits out 2026.

Stranger st has happened.

[riskyj]

Muzzer79 said:

Nationality helps, I reckon.

I assumed this was the primary motivation.

If Audi have the budget to get Sainz (and it must be a healthy budget if RBR “can’t match it”) then surely the have the money for a driver better than Nico if that’s what they wanted.