the rumors had been swirling for some time and Haas F1 has finally made it official. The Hulk is back in F1 and racing alongside Kevin Magnussen at Haas F1 for 2023.
This means that Mick Schumacher, despite his Ferrari ties and last name, is on the outside of F1 looking in. Despite his defiant “prove them wrong” social media statement, there are no seats left for 2023 and his options may be limited to a reserve driver role.
Hulkenberg is a known entity and what Haas F1 has told us with this move is that they desire experience over youth at this stage. Here is the Haas F1 press release.
Haas F1 Press Release:
Haas F1 Team has signed Germany’s Nico Hülkenberg to contest the 2023 FIA Formula 1 World Championship alongside Denmark’s Kevin Magnussen.
Hülkenberg (35), a Formula 1 veteran with 181 career starts and a 2015 24 Hours of Le Mans race winner with Porsche, makes his full-time return to the sport next year with the American squad having spent the past two seasons in the role of reserve driver for the Aston Martin F1 Team.
Hülkenberg was active in the 2022 FIA Formula 1 World Championship standing in for Sebastian Vettel at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix and again at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, but the Emmerich-born racer made his first Formula 1 start back in 2010 debuting for Williams at the Bahrain Grand Prix following a stellar junior career.
A champion in the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport with A1 Team Germany in 2006-07, Hülkenberg then won the 2008 Formula 3 Euro Series followed by the 2009 GP2 Series (now known as the FIA Formula 2 Championship) – prompting a swift graduation into Formula 1 for 2010.
Having raced for Williams, Force India, Sauber, Renault, Racing Point and Aston Martin, Hülkenberg has amassed 521 career points in Formula 1 – including one pole position (Brazil 2010), two fastest laps and a best-finish of fourth three times. The German holds a qualifying resume which includes 94 Q3 appearances. A career high of seventh place in the Driver Standings came with Renault back in the 2018 season.
“I’m naturally very pleased to be welcoming Nico Hülkenberg back to a full-time racing role in Formula 1,” commented Guenther Steiner, Team Principal, Haas F1 Team.
“The experience and knowledge base Nico brings to the team is clear to see – with nearly 200 career starts in Formula 1 – and a reputation as being a great qualifier and a solid, reliable racer. These are attributes, which when you pair them together with Kevin Magnussen’s experience, gives us a very credible and well-seasoned driver line-up which we believe will help push the team onwards up the grid.
“That’s obviously the goal and it was that ambition that has prompted Nico’s return to Formula 1 – 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.”
“I’m very happy to move into a full-time race seat with Haas F1 Team in 2023. I feel like I never really left Formula 1,” said Hülkenberg.
“I’m excited to have the opportunity to do what I love the most again and want to thank Gene Haas and Günther Steiner for their trust. 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.”
Hülkenberg will start work for Haas F1 Team on Tuesday 22nd November participating in the end of season Formula 1 test hosted in Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit – Hülkenberg piloting this season’s VF-22 alongside the team’s test and reserve driver Pietro Fittipaldi in the second car.
This is a Haas fan’s dream come true! (or at least mine)
Both of these drivers are exciting to watch and each wants to extract the most out of the car in every outing. So long as The Guent can keep them from clashing, they’re going to push each other to heights. As long as next year’s car is capable, I feel this paring will result in their first podium position. Hopefully for Hulk (Sorry Mag! You’re beautiful, and I love you, but Hulk’s been waiting a lot longer) ~X8
I’m happy to see the Hulk back on the grid. I just hope that Haas can provide him and Mag a car worthy of their talent. If they can, the mid field will be fun to watch next year.