Hulkenberg: When we become an Audi team, the pressure will increase

      Nico Hulkenberg played for Sauber in 2013 and now, 12 years later, he has returned to Hinville because Audi, which implements its factory project based on the Swiss team, is interested in his services.

      The experienced German managed to take 7th place in Australia due to the fact that he calmly and prudently acted in difficult conditions of changeable weather. Niko immediately earned more points for the team than it had at the end of last season.

      "To be honest, there are more new faces in the team than acquaintances! – Niko said in an interview with the official website of the championship. – There are several veterans at the base in Hinville who worked in 2013, but the composition of the racing team has changed significantly, mostly new people work here.

      We had a lot of things to do in the winter, we tried to prepare as best we could, but I'm more of a practitioner, so I'm just glad I got back behind the wheel of the car and got down to real business. We are still at the very beginning of the journey, so the work continues. Actually, this phrase can be considered our motto!..

      Now we have such a car as we have, it has a number of good qualities, but it is not without flaws, so now the task is to fully understand everything. So far, it's just a stage of adaptation to the C45, I'm trying to find an approach to the car. She is new, the team is also new, and this process always requires time and effort, it is necessary to carry out very detailed work, which cannot be done in one day.

      Moreover, it will not be possible to do this on a theoretical level – only in the process of piloting, and the work has already begun. Let's see if we keep smiling after the first few races, or if we have to frown. But for now, we are focused on those tasks that we are able to solve – this is the most important thing right now. Therefore, we are simply trying to use all available opportunities to unlock the potential of the car.

      Of course, I'm very happy for the whole team, because we were able to score points in Melbourne. The conditions were difficult, but we managed to avoid trouble and show the best possible result. We must pay tribute to the team – the right choice was made at the right moment in terms of tactics, and this helped us take 7th place.

      We have a very good working relationship with Mattia Binotto, the team leader, and we cooperate very productively. He seems to be really quick to react to everything that happens with the team, we communicate all the time, and so far I like everything.

      Of course, Jonathan Wheatley will be joining the team soon, and he has a lot of experience and extensive knowledge. He has worked for one of the most successful teams in modern Formula 1, and I am sure that he will be able to offer many interesting ideas that will help the team achieve better results.

      A lot of new people, including engineers, have been joining Sauber recently, and we continue the intensive recruitment process. It seems to me that the new forces will be able to create a very positive attitude and a positive atmosphere."

      Preparations for 2026, when the team will receive factory status, are proceeding in several directions: a new chassis is being developed at the Sauber base in Hinville under the leadership of technical director James Key; Audi Motorsport continues to create its own power plant in Neuburg, Germany, but a "Technology Center" will soon open in the UK.

      "Thanks to all this work. The year 2025 will be a transitional one, when everyone will get to know each other and establish mutual understanding," Niko continued. – Nevertheless, we want to make improvements during this championship. We are striving for this ahead of next year, when we will become an official Audi factory team, and the pressure will increase.

      Now, first of all, we are laying the foundations, working on a "zero cycle", i.e. we are preparing for what awaits us in the next couple of years. Therefore, every day and every step taken in this direction is important now.…

      If we talk about me, I just enjoy my work and am glad that I am involved in this project. I want to contribute to it, and I'm glad that I can help the team, and I'm trying to use all my experience for this."