Two leading teams were close to signing Nico Hulkenberg.

      Nico Hulkenberg came close to racing for both Red Bull and Ferrari. The only active Formula 1 drivers older than the 37-year-old German are Lewis Hamilton, the 40-year-old seven-time world champion, and Fernando Alonso, the 43-year-old two-time title winner. In a contrast, Hulkenberg finally reached the podium for the very first time at Silverstone last Sunday, despite having participated in nearly 250 grands prix.

      "For me, his performances place him among the top five drivers in Formula 1," remarked Red Bull advisor Dr. Helmut Marko. "He consistently outperforms drivers who have a significant material advantage over him," he stated to Sport Bild. "One can only respect Nico. The podium was long overdue."

      Max Verstappen was the first to congratulate the Sauber driver in parc ferme after the British Grand Prix, with drivers throughout the grid soon joining in. "He’s one of the best drivers on the grid who’s never had the chance to drive a competitive car," said Alonso. "I’m really, really happy for him."

      Carlos Sainz concurs: "Nico has always been among the top five. His level of talent and race execution is remarkable," the Spaniard added. "Honestly, the criticism he received for not having any podium finishes was completely misplaced."

      Former Haas team principal Gunther Steiner was the one who brought Hulkenberg out of retirement a few years ago to revive a career that is now leading to the works Audi project. "He’s one of the best drivers, but he never had the fortune to be in the right car at the right time," Steiner told RTL. "What makes him special is that he has always maintained his humility, without any signs of stardom. He has still managed to earn well as a Formula 1 driver and is highly respected."

      Steiner explained: "I brought him on board because I knew his capabilities. We needed someone like Nico to move the team forward, which he did. Performance is key, and he delivers. Nico demonstrated on Sunday that his performance remains strong, even at the age of 37. He did an outstanding job."

      However, Hulkenberg was nearly a driver for a top team—or two. Marko admits that Red Bull almost signed him to be Verstappen’s teammate in 2021. "That was before we signed Checo Perez," he told Osterreich newspaper. "Hindsight is always 20-20. Checo won back then, while Hulkenberg was making mistakes. He’s improved now," the Austrian added. "The older he gets, the fewer errors he makes. That’s why he has a solid contract with Audi."

      Indeed, if Hulkenberg weren't so dedicated to Audi’s long-term project starting in 2026, he might now be the leading candidate to replace Yuki Tsunoda. Sport Bild reports that Hulkenberg also nearly joined Ferrari, having engaged in "intensive talks" with then-team principal Stefano Domenicali in 2013.

      "The historic racing team offered the then-Sauber driver a 45-page contract that had been meticulously negotiated," the magazine noted. "However, the agreement was never finalized, as the company’s then-CEO, Sergio Marchionne, vetoed the deal at the last moment, and Hulkenberg still does not know the reason."

      Hulkenberg will now help guide Audi’s initial steps in Formula 1 from 2026. "Nico will assist the team in getting started," said former grand prix winner David Coulthard. "The challenge is undoubtedly immense, but he has proven he can always extract the maximum from any situation. I fundamentally trust him to achieve anything—more podium finishes included."