Nico Hulkenberg is among the top midfield marauders on the 2024 Formula 1 grid, so here is everything that you need to know about the German and current Haas driver.
The American team brought Hulkenberg back to F1 in 2023, with Guenther Steiner favouring experienced hands to replace Mick Schumacher. He had not held a full-time race drive in the pinnacle of motorsport since 2019. Hulkenberg had spent the in-between years as a reserve.
Renault dropped Hulkenberg following the 2019 Formula 1 season to sign Esteban Ocon. He had driven for the Enstone team now running as Alpine since 2017 following earlier stints at Williams, Force India and Sauber. Hulkenberg recorded his F1 debut at the 2010 Bahrain GP.
Haas star Nico Hulkenberg debuted in F1 after winning GP2
Williams brought Hulkenberg into F1 in 2010 having won the 2009 GP2 Series title with five wins in 20 races. It was also his rookie season in the premier feeder championship. But the German settled straight in with P3 in the Sprint race at the Monaco GP in the second round.
Hulkenberg even won his first races in GP2 with the double at the German GP round, while also winning the Feature race at the Hungarian GP round. He also made the podium at the British GP in a campaign also featuring future F1 drivers, Romain Grosjean and Sergio Perez.
Success in single-seaters came Hulkenberg’s way from the moment that he graduated from go-karts in 2005, too. The German won the Formula BMW ADAC title in his first year driving cars with eight wins in 20 races. He also took pole position for nine of the races that season.
A move to A1 Grand Prix in 2006/07 to represent Team Germany also returned another title with nine wins in 20 races. While a second season in the Formula 3 Euro Series in 2008 took Hulkenberg to another title. He had finished the 2007 Formula 3 Euro Series in third place.
It was a similar story when Hulkenberg started competing in go-karts, as well. He entered a championship for the first time in 2000 and took his first title in 2001 with ICA Junior class honours in the Italian Open Masters. Hulkenberg also defended his ICA Junior title in 2002.
Stepping up to the Junior class in the 2002 German Karting Championship also returned a karting title. A triumph he also achieved when Hulkenberg won the Senior class title in the 2003 German Karting Championship. But he never lifted a CIK-FIA European or world title.
Nico Hulkenberg won the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Porsche
Being able to rapidly adapt to new machinery came in handy when Hulkenberg graduated to Formula 1 with Williams. At 23 years old, he put their FW32 on pole position at the Brazilian GP in challenging conditions in 2010 with a flurry of rapid times as a wet track started to dry.
Hulkenberg has since established a reputation as one of Formula 1’s most reliable midfield point scorers. But the down-to-earth racer also set the unwanted record of having the most Grand Prix starts without a podium finish in F1 with his 129th at the Singapore GP in 2017.
His career might have looked very different had Lewis Hamilton rejected a chance to move from McLaren to Mercedes in 2013. Hulkenberg was Mercedes’ second choice to take over Michael Schumacher’s seat. Instead, he switched Force India for a single season for Sauber.
In the end, a return to Force India between 2014 until 2016 also allowed Hulkenberg to race for Porsche at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2015. He partnered Nick Tandy and Earl Bamber in the German brand’s third 919 Hybrid. And Hulkenberg even won Le Mans outright on debut.
But who really is Hulkenberg and what is the Haas driver’s life outside of Formula 1 like? Well, F1 Oversteer takes a look at everything you need to know about the German racing driver…
How old is Nico Hulkenberg? What is the Haas driver’s age?
At the time of writing, Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg is 36 years old. He was born on August 19, 1987 to his parents father, Klaus Dieter Hulkenberg, and his mum, Susanne Hulkenberg.
Where was Nico Hulkenberg born? What is his nationality?
Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg was born in Emmerich am Rhein, Germany located in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The city was founded in 1233 and boasts a population of 31,000.
How tall is Nico Hulkenberg? What is his height in feet?
Nico Hulkenberg is one of the tallest drivers on the 2024 F1 grid at a height of 1.84m or 6ft in feet. His Haas teammate, Kevin Magnussen, stands just below the average of 1.77m (5 ft 9) at 1.74m (5 ft 8). Esteban Ocon and Alex Albon are the tallest drivers in F1 at 1.86m (6 ft 1).
Nico Hulkenberg’s wife, Egle Ruskyte
Nico Hulkenberg married his wife, Egle Ruskyte, in 2021 after getting engaged the previous September. The couple had been dating since 2015, when Hulkenberg met the Lithuanian. She owns a fashion business that specialises in handmade crochet clothes and beachwear.
Egle, who also studied at university in her home country, often attends Formula 1 races to support Hulkenberg. He also met her a year after splitting from police officer, Laura Zinnel.
Nico Hulkenberg had a baby daughter Noemi Sky in 2021
Nico Hulkenberg’s wife, Egle Ruskyte, gave birth to their first baby in September 2021 with a daughter called, Noemi Sky. It capped a special year for the couple following their marriage.
Nico Hulkenberg’s net worth
No reliable site quotes Nico Hulkenberg’s net worth but estimates place it near $10m (£8m).
Nico Hulkenberg’s Formula 1 career stats
As of the end of the 2023 Formula 1 season, Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg had entered 206 Grand Prix. The German made his debut with Williams at the 2010 Bahrain GP. He also took his first pole position at the 2010 Brazilian GP for Williams but finished eighth at Interlagos.
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