In 2024, Nico Hulkenberg was the solid midfield grafter whose regular points-scoring for Haas helped move the team up three places in the constructors’ championship compared to the year before. His reward was a call-up from Audi to join what will be their works team next year.
Haas began the year in the lower half of the midfield but the team made incursions into the points by strategically sacrificing Kevin Magnussen at times, allowing Hulkenberg to capitalise. This came about as Hulkenberg typically out-qualified his team mate, a pattern which continued throughout the season.More often than not the VF-24 wasn’t quite quick enough to score points on merit. Hulkenberg demonstrated that point with a string of 11th-place finishes in Miami, Imola, Canada and Spain.
However once Haas began to make progress with their car, with perhaps the most successful upgrades they have ever introduced, Hulkenberg capitalised. He brilliantly re-passed Sergio Perez to claim sixth place in Austria, then repeated the result in Britain despite losing places at the start – his getaways were a recurring weakness.
Nico Hulkenberg
| Best | Worst | |
|---|---|---|
| GP start | 6 (x2) | 19 |
| GP finish | 6 (x2) | 18 |
| Points | 41 | |
Haas brought another package of upgrades for their car late in the season and Hulkenberg again responded with a string of points finishes. He beat Perez again for ninth in Singapore, then took eighth in Austin and ninth in Mexico, though he finished behind Magnussen for once at the latter.
There were a few notable slip-ups on the way, however. He tangled with Lance Stroll on the first lap in Bahrain, had a silly collision with Yuki Tsunoda in Monza and was poor in Qatar. And while he usually had the beating of Magnussen, Hulkenberg was beaten by Oliver Bearman on his two appearances for the team, after clipping a wall in Baku and spun out in Brazil.
Those incidents aside, Hulkenberg delivered the kind of season which underlined why many rated him so highly when he arrived in F1. It has earned him what could be a rewarding late career opportunity.
RaceFans’ driver rankings are based partly on the scores awarded to drivers for their performances in each round as well as other factors.
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Andy (@andycz)
27th January 2025, 12:12
Nice place but I would place him in front of Pierre. I expect Pierre would be 8. If it was vice-versa it’s hard to complain! I just really HOPE Audi will build him propper car. It would be a fairy tail, if he will make some podium in 2026.
Yes (@come-on-kubica)
27th January 2025, 12:22
More like Audi make the ultra car and it leads to a runaway Hulkenburg title win!
Andy (@andycz)
27th January 2025, 12:25
I would not be sad about that!
Riccard
27th January 2025, 13:23
I think Hamilton, Hulkenberg and Gasly could all have been contenders for 10th, 9th or 8th
Of those three, Hamilton was often disappointing with a great drive at Silverstone; Gasly was often disappointing with some great drives in Austin, Brazil and Vegas; while Hulkenberg normally maximised his results apart from a couple of disappointments in Baku and Brazil.
So Hulk did have a decent shot at 8th, and can still be happy that he thoroughly earned a space in the top 10.
El Pollo Loco
28th January 2025, 1:44
I would put Hulkenberg in front of Pierre simply based on the fact Gasly was down either 5-0 or 6-0 in quali for Ocon to begin the year and all that only turned around after Alpine stopped giving Ocon any support after Monaco. Also, he’s getting too much credit for a late season P3 which happened in chaotic circumstances and with Ocon finishing ahead.
BasCB (@bascb)
29th January 2025, 13:12
Somewhat absurd, isn’t it? Gasly was pretty soundly beaten on pace by Ocon when they both got equal support and when they made their big bang result, was ahead once again (and he had started far closer to the top of the field, making it less of a fluke that he did actually get there). I don’t really see that very impressive run of pace from Gasly that is mentioned in his post, rather Alpine finally was able to get their car working a bit.
BasCB (@bascb)
29th January 2025, 13:08
Wholly agree there yeah. Hulk showed many outstanding drives and not too many times where he seemed completely missing from the weekend (or worse). Gasly IMO hardly deserves to be ahead of Ocon.
Tony Mansell (@tonymansell)
27th January 2025, 13:20
Its amazing that such a solid driver hasn’t lucked in on a podium whilst scoring 571 points. His attitude that he cuts his cloth according to his means chimes perfectly with mid field teams who are happy picking up the crumbs. Hence why Audi have picked up a man who will turn 38 this year and whose potential has long been known.
Edvaldo
27th January 2025, 15:09
It was one of his best seasons, along with 2013 and 2014. With a weak car, a team that aspires to nothing, and Grosjean and Magnussen as drivers for most of their existence, Hulk was a blessing, a sign for them to shake things up and reset and that’s what they did.
Sergey Martyn
27th January 2025, 16:23
Hulk is solid 8th or maybe even 7th!
El Pollo Loco
28th January 2025, 1:52
I’d give him the nod over Pierre and Piastri for sure, which would put him 7th. I don’t see a good reason for putting Gasly above Hulk simply because his season ended strongly.
And, if Lando failed to maximize his car’s potential yet Oscar was down 21-3 or 20-4 in quali (one of the two) and I think 19-5 in head-to-head finishing position, I don’t see why OP should be any higher than 9th. Per usual though, just like when Bottas was at Mercedes, drivers automatically get higher placings if they manage to usually finish in the top 6 even if they should usually be in the top 4.
Sergey Martyn
28th January 2025, 8:05
+1!
Rolfski (@rolfski)
27th January 2025, 23:16
I remember when the whole world and his mother declared him a weak choice for the Haas 2023 seat. And oh boy, did he prove everybody wrong the last 2 years. Easily one of the top midfielders.
El Pollo Loco
28th January 2025, 1:53
What? Hulk was an incredibly popular choice. I don’t remember many suggesting any other names for the seat, unless it was bitter Mick fans.
Rolfski (@rolfski)
28th January 2025, 12:35
I’m not sure what comments you’ve been checking but almost every self-acclaimed F1 pundit at the time believed that Hulk was anything but an exciting choice for Haas. And that they rather would have seen fresh blood in that seat. He was generally regarded as a solid driver but one who had his chance and should make a place for young talent.
Edvaldo
28th January 2025, 16:06
Some people hate on the Hulk because of his lack of podiums, but anyone who saw this guy getting in a car without warm-up and taking it to Q3, and scoring points while being faster than his teammate in 2020 knew he would retire Magnussen. It’s a different class of driver.
Bullfrog (@bullfrog)
28th January 2025, 23:17
Hopefully he can Kick Sauber up the (rhymes with his previous team) because he deserves better than trailing around at the back, 10 years now after winning Le Mans during a full season of F1.