P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Audi confirmed last week that Nico Hulkenberg has penned a multi-year contract with the team and be part of its line-up when it joins the grid in 2026.
Valtteri Bottas expressed surprise at the timing of Audi’s announcement that Nico Hulkenberg would be joining the team. Hulkenberg is set to join the Sauber team in 2025 ahead of Audi’s full takeover in 2026. The announcement confirmed that either Bottas or Zhou Guanyu would be leaving the team after the current season. Despite the early announcement, Bottas acknowledged that Hulkenberg’s signing “makes sense” for Audi’s strategy. Bottas emphasized his desire to stay with Stake for next year and potentially participate in Audi’s F1 program long-term. He did not dismiss the possibility of returning to Mercedes to replace Lewis Hamilton. When questioned about his future plans after Audi’s announcement, Bottas mentioned ongoing discussions with multiple teams for a seat in the upcoming season.
