On the finish of final month, Hulkenberg inked a brand new take care of Sauber to hitch the Swiss-based outfit subsequent yr forward of its takeover by Audi, turning into the German producer’s first manufacturing unit signing for 2026.
This implies his time period with Haas will come to a detailed on the finish of the present season, leaving the squad to search for a alternative, who will doubtless not have the identical expertise because the veteran German.
Hulkenberg has accomplished 10 full seasons in F1 since he made his debut with Williams in 2010, and his points-scoring finishes in Saudi Arabia, Australia and China have helped propel Haas to seventh within the standings.
Talking about his departure, the 36-year-old sang praises for Komatsu and revealed the lengths the engineer-turned-team boss went to to retain him for subsequent yr.
“He is doing properly. He was actually thrown in on the deep finish as the brand new workforce boss at first of the yr. Out of nowhere,” Hulkenberg mentioned in reference to Komatsu’s shock promotion following the workforce’s break up with Guenther Steiner.
“In February, he had a driver’s contract in his palms for the primary time in his life. That is additionally particular, and there are some things you must know and see first.
“Up till the announcement, it was nice working with him. Additionally when it comes to coordination. I spoke to him brazenly about it just a few weeks in the past, that there was a superb dynamic and {that a} choice would most likely be made sooner slightly than later.
“He fought, he gave every thing.
“The choice wasn’t a no brainer for me. I’ve already given it some thought.
“Haas is the workforce that made my comeback attainable. However on the finish of the day, the higher sporting prospect for me personally is just with Audi.”
Though Hulkenberg is shifting to a rival outfit subsequent yr, he nonetheless expects to obtain new updates from Haas concurrently team-mate Kevin Magnussen by means of to the top of the season.
Requested if Magnussen may now have precedence on new elements, he mentioned: “I do not assume so. I feel it should proceed to be honest and good.
“The workforce and I each have a vested curiosity in ending the season as properly and efficiently as attainable.
“We wish to try to beat all the opposite midfield groups, and I do not assume that is fully unrealistic given the best way issues look right now. We’ll proceed to work as a workforce in the correct path.”
Nevertheless, Hulkenberg understands that Haas wouldn’t wish to hold him within the loop with the developments for subsequent yr after it begins to give attention to creating the successor to the VF-24.
“Sure, undoubtedly, in some unspecified time in the future,” he mentioned. “In two, three, 4 months, I feel so.
“Subsequent yr, the vehicles will not actually change radically. So there will not be any extra tremendous secrets and techniques to remove. I am relaxed about that.”