Germany’s Nico Hulkenberg will make a full-time Formula One comeback at Haas subsequent season after the U.S.-owned group introduced him on Thursday as a alternative for youthful compatriot Mick Schumacher.
Haas opted for expertise over youth with the 35-year-old veteran, who has began 181 F1 races with out as soon as standing on the rostrum, becoming a member of 30-year-old Danish driver Kevin Magnussen within the lineup.
“I feel like I never really left Formula One,” mentioned Hulkenberg in a group assertion forward of the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
“I’m excited to have the opportunity to do what I love the most again … We have work ahead of us to be able to compete with all the other teams in the midfield, and I cannot wait to join that battle again.”
Hulkenberg, who gained the 24 Hours of Le Mans sportscar race with Porsche in 2015, final raced full-time in Formula One in 2019 with Renault and can take a look at with Haas at Yas Marina subsequent week.
He stood in for Mexican Sergio Perez and Canadian Lance Stroll as a reserve at Racing Point in 2020 and for Sebastian Vettel at Aston Martin in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia this 12 months. All had been sidelined by COVID-19.
Team boss Guenther Steiner mentioned Hulkenberg’s expertise and repute as a “great qualifier and a solid, reliable racer” would assist push the group up the grid.
“He shares our vision and can be a key player together with the rest of the team in building on the foundations we’ve laid this year with our return to the points battle,” he mentioned.
Hulkenberg’s signing leaves Schumacher, 23, with out a seat after two seasons within the sport.
The 2020 Formula Two champion has been concerned in some expensive crashes this season however scored his first factors and is sixteenth general.
Three positions forward is Magnussen, who chalked up his and the Haas group’s first pole place in altering climate circumstances on the final race in Brazil as Schumacher lined up final.
Ferrari-powered Haas are eighth of the ten groups within the general standings after ending 2021 in final place and with out a level.
Schumacher mentioned on social media that he was “very disappointed” to be leaving.
“It was at times bumpy but I steadily improved, learned a lot and now know for sure that I deserve a place in Formula One,” he mentioned of his two seasons.
“The subject is anything but closed for me. Setbacks only make you stronger. My fire burns for Formula One and I will fight hard to return to the starting grid.”
