Hülkenberg Praises Haas Gains, Sets Sights on Stake Shift

After a strong season with Haas, Hülkenberg anticipates a fresh challenge and possible new outcomes with Stake next year.

Haas F1 is currently the team to watch in the midfield, having reclaimed sixth place in the Constructors’ Championship from RB F1. In Austin, they scored points in both the sprint race and the Grand Prix, marking their fourth consecutive points finish.

“Yes, it was very positive. We scored points twice, with both cars in the Sprint,” Nico Hülkenberg said, smiling as he prepared for the first practice session in Mexico today.

“So, yes, we’re very pleased coming off that weekend. Moreover, we’ve taken sixth place in the championship for now. We obviously want to hold onto this position, replicate this level of performance as much as possible, and bring that momentum here and into next week, continuing to build on it.”

The big change this year is that Haas F1’s in-season upgrades are finally paying off, with a notable step forward in Austin.

“Yes, we’ve made progress…” Hülkenberg confirms.

“All year long, we’ve been moving forward consistently. It’s very different from last season when the updates weren’t arriving as expected, and often didn’t work.”

“This year, the upgrades genuinely add something to the car and improve performance. We started early with developments around China, then in Miami, and of course, Silverstone was a significant step forward. Last weekend, too, was very positive. But I think there’s more to learn and explore. It’s a true turnaround, especially when you remember where we were at the end of last season. The whole team benefits from this, and we want to keep up the momentum.”

In Mexico, can Haas F1 aim for a fifth consecutive points finish?

“Yes, it’s a good sign for us,” says Nico Hülkenberg. “The whole team is in a positive, very optimistic rhythm. A lot of good things have happened over the past few months, which is excellent. But each weekend, we have to stay on top, avoid mistakes, as things can quickly change, especially in the midfield. A small error can drop you to 15th or 16th place instead of being 10th. We need to keep converting these performances. The car is good, but it’s down to us to manage the operations well.”

Does Hülkenberg have any regrets about leaving an improving Haas F1 team to join Stake/Audi next year, which seems to be struggling? Perhaps his experience in bringing a team from the back to the midfield could be useful?

“Not necessarily. I’ve spent the majority of my career in the midfield, so I know the lay of the land well. It’s mostly about development, about putting a better package on track, which Haas succeeded in doing over the winter. Obviously, the goal and ambition will be the same for Sauber – to make that transformation over the winter. Then, we’ll see what the car and the package bring when we start working over there next year.”