Valtteri Bottas believes Audi’s desire to have a German driver when it enters Formula 1 in 2026 was a reason behind Sauber signing Nico Hulkenberg for next season.
Sauber announced last week that it has acquired Hulkenberg on a multi-term contract to become the first driver to commit to its expansion into a works Audi entrant.
Despite Audi’s name not being plastered on the team until new technical rules are implemented, Sauber revealed that the marque would be involved in driver choices.
Audi has expressed on past occasions that a German representative was a preferred option and that has been fulfilled with Hulkenberg’s impending move from Haas.
Bottas, who has said that he desires to work with Audi, has admitted that the news came as a surprise to him, despite acknowledging that the deal is understandable.
“The timing is quite early and a little bit surprising,” Bottas said in Miami when asked about Hulkenberg. “But the driver market is starting to move, obviously.
“It also kind of makes sense, he’s German and Audi’s made it pretty clear that they want a German driver. So it’s all good, let’s see what happens next.”
Bottas reiterated that he retains outside options for 2025, stating that he’s “speaking to multiple teams, some talks have advanced more than the others, so we’ll see.”
Meanwhile, Hulkenberg, who returned to a full-time drive last term, has conceded that it’s unchartered territory for him to have his future resolved this early in the year.
“It’s quite unusual for me that I know so early in the season where my future will be.”
He added: “I obviously want to finish as successfully as possible. There’s no presents to my future team, I’m still going to try and kick their butts!”
Hulkenberg also confirmed rumours last term that Sauber had approached him over a move for this season, but he opted to remain with Haas for a second campaign.
“There was an appetite and interest already last year and conversations, but it didn’t happen,” he revealed.
“And then this year again, obviously quite early in the season still, there was an appetite from them.
“But there was also appetite here from Haas, I was in parallel also talking with Ayao [Komatsu, team boss] and telling him that I think the future decision will happen sooner this year.
“So I gave them, not the opportunity, but I was talking here too because Haas is the team that gave me the opportunity to come back, last year.
“So I’m still very grateful for that but at the end obviously decided to move to Sauber.”
