Nico Hulkenberg has already made an ‘enormous’ impact at Sauber to earn rich praise from technical director James Key after defecting from Haas in the 2025 F1 campaign.
The 37-year-old returned to Hinwil, Switzerland this season after Hulkenberg agreed a multi-year works Audi contract ahead of Sauber becoming the German automotive brand’s factory team next term. He previously drove for Sauber in 2013 and now partners Gabriel Bortoleto.
It has been a mixed start to the 2025 F1 season for Sauber despite the highs of Hulkenberg’s P7 finish in the Australian Grand Prix. His result in Melbourne returned all six of their points so far after only Yuki Tsunoda would finish the Chinese GP behind Bortoleto and Hulkenberg.
James Key hails Nico Hulkenberg’s feedback Sauber lacked ‘for a long time’ with Valtteri Bottas
Hulkenberg’s return plus Formula 2 champion Bortoleto’s arrival with factory Audi contracts marked the start of a new era for Sauber as Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu both left at the end of their deals. Bottas and Zhou had shared the Sauber garage for the last three seasons.
READ MORE: Sauber driver Nico Hulkenberg’s life outside F1 from wife to height
| Category | Nico Hulkenberg | Gabriel Bortoleto |
| 2024 points | 6 | 0 |
| Grand Prix results | 1 | 1 |
| Grand Prix qualifying | 1 | 1 |
| Grand Prix wins | 0 | 0 |
| Grand Prix poles | 0 | 0 |
| Grand Prix podiums | 0 | 0 |
| Best finish | 7th | 14th |
| Retirements | 0 | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 0 | 0 |
| Grand Prix points finishes | 1 | 0 |
| Sprint results | 0 | 1 |
| Sprint Qualifying | 0 | 1 |
| Sprint wins | 0 | 0 |
| Sprint poles | 0 | 0 |
| Sprint podiums | 0 | 0 |
Sauber technical director Key has also already seen some major differences with his team’s new line-up as Hulkenberg is providing them with feedback on another level to what Bottas and Zhou offered. Key is in awe of Hulkenberg’s ability to sense tiny details driving their C45.
“Nico has been truly brilliant so far,” Key outlined, via Auto Motor und Sport. “With his experience, he can explain calmly and clearly what the car is doing. He senses even the smallest details and can communicate them very well. That helps us enormously.
“The team haven’t had such good driver feedback for a long time. We’re getting completely fresh insights and new directions for development. Unfortunately, it will take some time before you can see that in the car.”
Sauber have already eclipsed their 2024 points tally in two rounds thanks to Hulkenberg
Hulkenberg’s feedback could prove crucial for Sauber as they try to bounce back from last year’s grim campaign in their final season before becoming Audi. Sauber came last in the F1 constructors’ standings for the first time since 2017 last term after only claiming four points.
| Position | Constructors’ Standings | Points |
| 1 |
McLaren Racing |
78 |
| 2 |
Mercedes-AMG Petronas |
57 |
| 3 |
Red Bull Racing |
36 |
| 4 |
Williams F1 Team |
17 |
| 5 |
Scuderia Ferrari |
17 |
| 6 |
Haas F1 Team |
14 |
| 7 |
Aston Martin F1 Team |
10 |
| 8 |
Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber |
6 |
| 9 |
Racing Bulls |
3 |
| 10 |
Alpine F1 Team |
0 |
Sauber have already eclipsed that total thanks to the German’s performance in Melbourne’s changeable conditions. But Sauber doubt they can repeat Hulkenberg’s Australian GP result on merit given the C45’s current ranking – further adding to the importance of his feedback.
Only Racing Bulls (3) and Alpine (0) have taken fewer points than Sauber (6) so far this year after two rounds. Yet Racing Bulls were on course to score points in Shanghai before sticking with a two-stop strategy when the new track surface allowed teams to adopt a one-stopper.
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