Audi has confirmed that Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto will remain its Formula 1 driver line-up for the 2027 season. Mattia Binotto confirmed the decision during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend in Baku, settling another two seats as next year’s grid continues to take shape.
There has been no major standalone announcement from the German manufacturer, largely because Audi never regarded a change as necessary. The experienced Nico Hülkenberg and the highly rated Gabriel Bortoleto will therefore continue together for a third consecutive season as team-mates and for a second year under the Audi name.
Audi confirms Hülkenberg and Bortoleto for 2027
The 2027 Formula 1 driver market is gradually becoming clearer. After Red Bull officially confirmed Isack Hadjar for another season alongside Max Verstappen, Audi has now removed another potential area of uncertainty by retaining both of its current drivers.
Mattia Binotto explained in Baku that the absence of a formal announcement should not be interpreted as uncertainty over the team’s plans.
There had been no official statement “because there was no need to make any big announcements,” the Audi team principal admitted.
As a result, Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto will begin a third championship together in 2027. Their partnership started with Sauber in 2025 before continuing into Audi’s first season as a full works Formula 1 operation in 2026.
Hülkenberg and Bortoleto partnership continues into third season
The pairing combines two very different stages of a Formula 1 career. Nico Hülkenberg provides extensive Grand Prix experience, while Gabriel Bortoleto remains one of the younger talents around whom Audi can build its long-term project.
Their first season together ended the Sauber era on a positive note. After several disappointing campaigns, Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto helped the team collect 70 points in 2025, providing a stronger platform ahead of Audi’s full takeover.
Audi officially entered Formula 1 as a works manufacturer in 2026, combining its own chassis programme with the first power unit developed by the German company for the championship.
The project inevitably experienced some teething problems during its first campaign, but performances became more competitive during the second half of the season. Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto have increasingly established themselves in the midfield and have regularly been involved in battles for points.
Audi opts for stability as 2027 F1 grid takes shape
Maintaining the same driver pairing gives Audi another element of continuity as the manufacturer continues developing its Formula 1 operation. Rather than introducing another variable through a driver change, the team can continue building around the experience and feedback already established between Nico Hülkenberg, Gabriel Bortoleto and the engineering group.
The decision also removes two potentially interesting seats from the 2027 driver market at a point when much of the grid has already been settled.
Which Formula 1 seats are still open for 2027?
With Audi’s line-up now confirmed, only a small number of seats remain unresolved for the 2027 Formula 1 season.
Both Racing Bulls positions are still awaiting confirmation, although Arvid Lindblad is expected to be in a strong position to retain his seat. Fernando Alonso’s future at Aston Martin also remains undecided, with the two-time world champion still considering whether to continue racing beyond the current season.
Esteban Ocon’s Haas seat is another position yet to be formally settled, adding another significant piece to the remaining driver-market picture.
For Audi, however, there is no such uncertainty. Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto will remain together in 2027, giving the manufacturer continuity as it enters the second season of its Formula 1 project and continues its attempt to move further up the grid.
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