Hulkenberg suggests he has a few more years remaining in his Formula 1 career.

      "I can certainly continue driving until I’m 40."

      Despite being on the brink of an exciting project, Nico Hulkenberg acknowledges that his Formula 1 career is coming to a close. With over 230 grand prix races under his belt and having raced for teams such as Williams, Force India, Sauber, Renault, Racing Point, Haas, and others, the German driver has never once stepped onto a podium. "It’s been an eventful career," Hulkenberg chuckled to the DPA news agency in Bahrain. He points out that the number of times he has 'changed teams' in the F1 paddock far exceeds the few times he has relocated in his personal life. "I've probably only moved three or four times," he noted. "I’m actually quite a settled person."

      Though he has never finished in the top three of a grand prix, he commands great respect within the paddock. The good news for his supporters is that "I still have a few races left in me." "I can definitely drive until I’m 40, so I don’t expect any issues in the coming years. What will happen after that is hard to predict today," stated the 37-year-old. However, Sauber has lured him away from Haas for 2025 to guide the team through its transition to full works Audi status next year. "Moving always entails work," he remarked. "You need to find your way around, get accustomed, and familiarize yourself with your new home and its environment."

      He compares it to relocating to a new neighborhood. "For me personally, it always takes some time to fully settle in, until I find my go-to Italian restaurant, dentist, hairdresser, and all the essentials for daily life. Perhaps that’s why I don’t move around much."

      While he is still acclimating at Sauber, after a recent visit to Audi’s F1 engine facility in Neuburg, Hulkenberg shared: "There’s a very positive and eager atmosphere there. People are excited about Formula 1 and this project. They are motivated and happy."