Nico Hülkenberg delivered an outstanding 2024 season, exceeding all expectations. The German driver led Haas to seventh place in the Constructors’ Championship, battling Alpine until the very end. In the Drivers’ Championship, he finished 11th with 41 points (57 for the team). His journey with the American team has come to an end, as he now prepares to join Sauber, soon to become Audi.
Consistency proved to be Hülkenberg’s greatest strength. In the first 10 Grands Prix of the season, aside from the Bahrain opener, he consistently finished between ninth and 11th place. A significant step forward came with upgrades introduced at the Austrian GP. During the Austrian weekend and at Silverstone, Nico Hülkenberg crossed the finish line in sixth place.
To close out the season, the German driver scored points in six of the final seven races, with the exception of Brazil, where he was disqualified. This impressive consistency, combined with strong performances, provided Haas with crucial points. Comparing his results to teammate Kevin Magnussen underscores Nico Hülkenberg’s decisive contribution to the team.
Nico Hülkenberg’s Reflections on the Season
Nico initially reflected on the team’s evolution after a disappointing 2023:
“It’s been a very good year. It’s easy to forget where we were last season and how far behind we were on certain weekends. Last year was very challenging, and turning the situation around so drastically is a great achievement for the whole team. I’m really happy to have been part of it.”
“I think Ayao [Komatsu] did an excellent job as Team Principal. He faced several challenging situations and handled them all well. I leave the team happy and confident they can be contenders for fifth place in the standings if they continue working like this.”
Nico Hülkenberg concluded his analysis of the 2024 season by saying:
“This season has been one of the most consistent of my career. I probably had similar years in 2017 or 2018. Maybe this is the one I’ve enjoyed the most. The highs, the lows, and the challenges—I enjoyed being here, and it was fun.”
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