Nico Hulkenberg believes Haas’s present funding drive will assist it turn out to be a “critical competitor within the years to return” in System 1, as he prepares to go to Sauber/Audi.
The German driver will depart Haas after a fruitful two-year stint on the American squad – one season working underneath former staff boss Guenther Steiner and one yr within the new regime underneath former engineering director Ayao Komatsu.
Haas is in a significantly better constructors’ championship place in 2024 as its automotive package deal 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 substitute Ollie Bearman additionally scoring.
The staff is at present simply three factors behind RB in a detailed battle for the profitable sixth place within the constructors’ championship.
Workforce proprietor Gene Haas has already been satisfied to log off on a recruitment drive designed to extend the squad’s 300-person dimension by 10% and is believed to have additionally green-lit a big funding within the services on the staff’s UK base in Banbury.
When requested how he predicts Haas’s future will go as soon as he heads to the Sauber staff that may turn out to be Audi in 2026 amidst F1’s subsequent guidelines reset in an unique interview with Autosport, Hulkenberg replied: “I believe the staff is ready up very properly now.
Nico Hulkenberg, Haas VF-24
Picture by: Alastair Staley / Motorsport Photographs
“And I believe it is a working organisation and I believe we have proved that to some extent this yr the place with the adjustments that occurred over winter.
“It [also] at all times relies upon additionally on many different elements. Commercially – what sort of companions have they got, what are the price range, what are the sources?
“That is clearly a key ingredient in that type of query. And I do not know that going ahead, what’s going to occur right here.
“However I hear that there’s some extra thrilling stuff within the pipeline for the staff, which is able to solely assist them, I believe.
“And I believe Haas goes to be a critical competitor within the years to return, 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.”