One of the worst-kept secrets in the Formula 1 paddock this season was Audi’s ambition to sign Nico Hulkenberg for 2025.
The 36-year-old German was on their radar last year with Valtteri Bottas’s seat at risk, but he remained at Haas and has started the season extremely well.
Journalist Ben Anderson was speaking on The Race Podcast about a driver who might have benefitted from Nico Hulkenberg signing up to join Sauber next year.
The front of the Formula 1 grid for 2025 is starting to take shape, but there’s still plenty of jeopardy at the other end of the paddock.
Only Hulkenberg and Alex Albon have contracts beyond the end of this season and there are plenty of drivers hoping to either stay where they are, move to a stronger outfit or break into Formula 1.
Nico Hulkenberg’s move to Sauber means that Kevin Magnussen is now more likely to stay at Haas beyond the end of this year.
He’s one of a handful of drivers in the group behind the top five teams that have recorded a top-ten finish this season.
However, Hulkenberg has been Haas’s star this season and if he hadn’t decided to leave the team, Magnussen’s place on the Formula 1 grid would be a lot less certain.
READ MORE: Haas driver Kevin Magnussen’s life outside F1 from wife and daughters to net worth
Kevin Magnussen ‘more likely’ to stay at Haas in 2025 after Nico Hulkenberg exit
Team principal Ayao Komatsu set expectations very low when he took over from Guenther Steiner during the winter break after they finished bottom of the Constructors’ Championship in 2023.
His predecessor wanted a more experienced driver line-up having previously had Nikita Mazepin and Mick Schumacher in the team.
That decision has paid off this season, with both drivers playing their part in scoring their first point of the campaign in Saudi Arabia.
Kevin Magnussen was tasked with holding up the pack while Nico Hulkenberg took advantage of the alternative strategy.
He drove a fantastic defensive race, albeit picking up two penalties in the process, but scored his first point in Australia after three of the drivers ahead of him retired.
Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen were likely to be battling for one Haas seat in 2025 with another driver emerging.
Audi poaching the German has given his Danish counterpart a much better chance of being on the grid next year.
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Haas F1 Team from team principal to Ferrari relationship
Haas left with a seat to fill after Nico Hulkenberg’s exit
Talking about the loss of Nico Hulkenberg at Haas, Anderson said: “Yeah, not ideal.
“I think they could see it coming, right? The fact that there was interest in [Nico] Hulkenberg last year, the fact they had to trigger the option in the contract to ward that interest off.
“They probably expected and planned for this scenario well in advance.
“It’s interesting now to reflect on comments Ayao Komatsu was making around the Chinese Grand Prix and talking up Kevin Magnussen more and more.
“Probably in expectation that he’s more likely now to be the reference driver that sticks around next year.”
Oliver Bearman could be Kevin Magnussen’s teammate next season
While Magnussen is more likely to be at Haas next season, there are no guarantees until a contract is signed.
The most likely driver to be at Haas next year at this stage is Oliver Bearman.
The British teenager is on Ferrari’s books but looks destined for a Formula 1 seat.
Bearman and Magnussen have worked well together in the past and that might count towards the Dane as well.
However, several drivers are going to lose their seats elsewhere and they might be targeting Magnussen a driver they think they can replace in 2025.
The post ‘Sticks around’: 31-year-old ‘more likely’ to retain F1 seat after Nico Hulkenberg's Audi move – journalist appeared first on F1 Oversteer.