Nico Hulkenberg believes Haas’s present funding drive will assist it turn into a “severe competitor within the years to come back” in System 1, as he prepares to go to Sauber/Audi.
The German driver will go away Haas after a fruitful two-year stint on the American squad – one season working beneath former group boss Guenther Steiner and one yr within the new regime beneath former engineering director Ayao Komatsu.
Haas is in a a lot better constructors’ championship place in 2024 as its automobile bundle now not destroys its tyres throughout races.
This implies Hulkenberg’s continued qualifying heroics since returning as a full-time F1 driver in 2023 have been transformed into six factors finishes, with Kevin Magnussen and his one-off alternative Ollie Bearman additionally scoring.
The group is presently simply three factors behind RB in a detailed battle for the profitable sixth place within the constructors’ championship.
Staff proprietor Gene Haas has already been satisfied to log off on a recruitment drive designed to extend the squad’s 300-person measurement by 10% and is believed to have additionally green-lit a major funding within the services on the group’s UK base in Banbury.
When requested how he predicts Haas’s future will go as soon as he heads to the Sauber group that may turn into Audi in 2026 amidst F1’s subsequent guidelines reset in an unique interview with Autosport, Hulkenberg replied: “I feel the group is ready up very nicely now.
Nico Hulkenberg, Haas VF-24
Picture by: Alastair Staley / Motorsport Pictures
“And I feel it is a working organisation and I feel we have proved that to some extent this yr the place with the modifications that occurred over winter.
“It [also] all the time relies upon additionally on many different elements. Commercially – what sort of companions have they got, what are the finances, what are the sources?
“That is clearly a key factor in that form of query. And I do not know that going ahead, what is going to occur right here.
“However I hear that there’s some extra thrilling stuff within the pipeline for the group, which is able to solely assist them, I feel.
“And I feel Haas goes to be a severe competitor within the years to come back, particularly undoubtedly subsequent yr nonetheless as a result of the laws are secure.
“2026 is an unknown for everybody, however the thrilling factor is 2026 is a white piece of paper and that makes it so fascinating for everybody who might do a greater job than different groups and stand out.”
You may learn the total interview with Hulkenberg right here.