Ignore The Rookies: Hulkenberg Is On It

We've all been so focused on the rookies this year that we sort of forgot about Nico Hulkenberg. The now veteran German driver had an impressive return to Haas, dragging that car into points finishing positions it didn't belong in, and even kept his cool with former rival Kevin Magnussen in a very mature relationship that helped build Haas to the team they are now. But we didn't really expect much from Kick Sauber, given their results last year were a bit lackluster.

Hulkenberg is another of those drivers who has spent his career bouncing around midfield teams, searching for that big opportunity to prove his worth and always being denied that opportunity. He currently holds the record for the longest race career without a podium, sitting at 240 Grands Prix weekends without a top-three. At the end of 2019, Renault let him go and without a seat, the German driver was forced to the sidelines. That was until 2023, when after a string of appearance for Aston Martin, he was given a full-time race seat at Haas F1.

Nico became a bit of a qualifying specialist with Haas, demonstrating his skill on Saturday and maximising whatever the race pace held on Sunday, approaching each race weekend with a new found maturity and desire to remain in the sport. However, at the end of 2024, Haas decided a full new lineup was required to take them into their next steps, and it seemed Audi had their sights set on the Hulk for 2026, so a move to Kick Sauber was on the cards.

Kick Sauber finished 2024 as the worst team on the grid, which meant expectations were low coming into the new season. All Nico had to do was bring the car home, minimise the damage bill, and perhaps nab a point where possible. Instead he has outscored the second Red Bull driver all season, and is currently on a three-race streak 1 point ahead of Red Bull as a constructor. He's consistently there or thereabouts in qualifying and bringing home a handful of points in the race. His 20 points are more than Sauber has scored in the last two years and his fifth place finish in Spain was his best result since the 2019 Italian Grand Prix - and let's not forget, that race in Spain saw him overtake 7-time champion Lewis Hamilton in a Ferrari.

It's a position of two faiths really. Audi have put their faith in an experienced hand of Nico Hulkenberg and a "clinical" and "hard working" rookie in Gabriel Bortoleto (Hulk's words, not mine). Similarly Hulkenberg has put his faith in Audi getting it right in their first season in F1, because at nearly 38, he's not got long left for this sport. Given his run of bad luck, being at the wrong team at the wrong time with Williams, Force India, Sauber, Renault, Racing Point, Aston Martin, Haas, and now Sauber, just maybe this time he has got it right.

Could 2026 be the year we finally see Nico Hulkenberg get a podium? Let us know your thoughts below.