Hülkenberg’s redemption
After being away from the Formula 1 grid for three years, and when very few believed in him anymore, Nico Hülkenberg has proven that he still deserves a place in the Circus. The experienced German carried the Haas F1 Team on his shoulders thanks to his vast expertise, and after an impressive two-year spell with the American outfit, he joined the Sauber project. The team in Hinwil now hopes that the 2026 regulation changes will allow this partnership to deliver significant results.
This season, the 38-year-old achieved his long-awaited first Formula 1 podium with an outstanding performance at Silverstone, a crowning achievement after a solid three-year run that benefited two midfield teams. Considering Red Bull’s challenges both technically and in managing their second drivers, it’s understandable that Milton Keynes is reflecting on 2021, a season when a deal with Hülkenberg came very close. History ultimately justified Red Bull’s approach—focusing solely on Max Verstappen and beginning a new era with the Dutchman—but it’s reasonable to think that having Hülkenberg in the team could have narrowed the gap between the two sides of the garage. The guidance of an experienced driver might also have been invaluable in both preventing and managing technical crises.
Helmut Marko’s comments
Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko revealed that Sergio Perez’s remarkable comeback in the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix changed the team’s plans entirely: “Checo won that race, and I think that’s why everything went in his favor,” Marko told F1-Insider. “At that time, Nico was working as a commentator for Servus TV, so there was already a relationship and some initial contact.”
“I think it would have been really nice to have a pairing of Nico and Max because they get along very well. Hülkenberg is also a points guarantee, and with our car, he could have achieved excellent finishes,” he added.
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