Nico Hülkenberg

Biography of F1 driver Nico Hulkenberg

A driver with a racing CV full of accolades, Nico Hulkenberg's F1 career is one unfairly highlighted with unenviable records and near-misses.

Having won championships on almost every step towards F1, the German had to wait until 2025 to finally break his streak of never having finished on an F1 podium.

How did such a naturally gifted racer get to this point in his racing career? Here is everything you need to know about the life of Nico Hulkenberg.

Hulkenberg's junior career

The early signs of Hülkenberg's driving prowess were evident as he clinched karting titles in Germany before transitioning to single-seater cars in 2005.

Commencing his journey in Formula BMW in Germany, Hülkenberg outpaced Sebastien Buemi to secure the championship. He then achieved victories in the German F3 championship and clinched the title in the now-discontinued A1 GP series. This success was coupled with a third-place finish in the Formula 3 Euro Series.

In 2008, Hülkenberg made another attempt and secured the Formula 3 Euro Series title, dominating the campaign. It was followed by an exceptional and championship-winning GP2 campaign, solidifying his position as the top candidate for promotion to F1.

Moving into F1

Hulkenberg duly moved into F1 in 2010 with Williams, partnering the experienced Rubens Barrichello.

The German made steady progress in his debut year, taking a best finish of sixth at the Hungarian Grand Prix. That result was one of six top-10 finishes in the final 10 races, securing him 14th in the drivers' standings, 25 points shy of highly experienced team-mate Rubens Barrichello.

Despite a solid season, rumours circulated that Hulkenberg would lose his drive for 2011 to the well-funded Pastor Maldonado. Sure enough, after the season finale in Abu Dhabi, team boss Frank Williams confirmed that the Venezuelan would replace Hulkenberg for 2011.

A year on the sidelines, then a return to the grid

Unable to secure a race seat for 2011, Hülkenberg took on the role of reserve driver at Force India. After spending a year on the sidelines, he was promoted to a race seat with the team, stepping in for Adrian Sutil and partnering with Paul Di Resta.

Making a strong comeback, the German showcased his skills by outscoring Di Resta 63 points to 46, achieving a career-best fourth-place finish at the Belgian Grand Prix along the way.

Hülkenberg's notable performance extended to the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix, where he took the lead in challenging weather conditions and led the race for 29 laps. Unfortunately, his chance for victory ended on lap 54 when he half-spun into Lewis Hamilton, resulting in a time penalty, and finishing fifth.

A stint at Sauber before a return to familiar surroundings

In 2013, Hülkenberg joined Sauber for the new season, comprehensively outscoring team-mate Esteban Gutierrez by 51 points to six. The Swiss outfit was more competitive in the second half of 2013, with Hülkenberg notably qualifying an excellent third on the grid at Monza, and taking six points finishes in the last eight races to end the season 10th in the drivers' standings.

Though the German's good form saw him linked with a move to Mercedes, that seat was ultimately taken by Lewis Hamilton, and Hülkenberg instead returned to Force India for 2014 in place of former team-mate Di Resta, this time with Sergio Pérez for company.

Though Pérez scored the team's only podium of the year with third at Baku, again it was Hülkenberg who notched the lion's share of the team's points, taking 96 points to Pérez's 59, aided by a 10-race scoring run from the season's start.

Consolidation at Force India and finally success - but not in F1

Hülkenberg and Pérez continued as teammates at Force India for the 2015 season. However, this time, the advantage went to the Mexican, who accumulated 78 points compared to the German's 58. Pérez again secured the team's sole podium finish, claiming third place in Sochi.

The addition of a B-spec chassis midway through the 2015 season bolstered Force India's performance, allowing Hülkenberg and Pérez to be more competitive. Despite scoring 19 points less than in 2014, the team achieved a higher standing in the constructors' championship, finishing the season in fifth place for the first time.

Team-mates again in 2016, Pérez outperformed Hülkenberg, notably securing two podium finishes and accumulating 101 points. Hülkenberg managed only 72 points, with a fourth-place finish at Spa the highlight of his season.

While Hülkenberg had yet to secure a podium finish in F1, he achieved victory in the 2015 24 Hours of Le Mans, winning the event driving a Porsche 919 alongside Earl Bamber and Nick Tandy. Hülkenberg became the first active F1 driver to win Le Mans since Johnny Herbert and Bertrand Gachot in 1991.

After four seasons with Force India, Hülkenberg opted for a change in 2017. He accepted an offer to lead the Renault team, which was still in the process of rebuilding after returning to F1 the previous year.

With modest expectations due to Renault's ongoing development, Hülkenberg's performance, earning 43 points, was deemed satisfactory. This was especially noteworthy considering his team-mate Jolyon Palmer struggled in the sister car, managing only eight points before departing the team after the Japanese Grand Prix.

Two more years with Renault

Two more seasons followed with Renault, with Hülkenberg enjoying his best season in 2018, in terms of overall results and finishing position in the drivers' standings.

The German scored points in 11 of the 21 races, with a high of sixth on five occasions, en route to seventh behind only the Ferrari, Red Bull and Mercedes drivers. It was a season that ended dramatically, though, with a crash in Abu Dhabi after being tipped into a spin by Romain Grosjean before barrel-rolling into the barriers.

With visible progress over two years, Hülkenberg might have seen 2019 as the year when he could finally score that first podium finish. Alas, Renault's progress stalled in 2019, and he slipped to 14th in the drivers' standings with only 37 points.

The German was also overshadowed by new team-mate Daniel Ricciardo, who had come into the team amid much fanfare, and who finished five places and 17 points higher. It led to Renault replacing Hülkenberg with Frenchman Esteban Ocon.

A super-sub in 2020

With no seats available for 2020, Hulkenberg was forced onto the sidelines, but was given an unexpected chance to shine four races into the season when Sergio Pérez contracted Covid-19 and Racing Point drafted him in at short notice to replace his old team-mate.

Though power unit issues prevented the German from starting the British Grand Prix, he kept his seat for the following weekend's 70th Anniversary Grand Prix at the same venue, and reminded everyone of his talent by qualifying a brilliant third, and then racing solidly to finish seventh.

Pérez returned to his seat thereafter, but Hülkenberg was again called upon to deputise for Racing Point later in the year as Lance Stroll tested positive for Covid.

Qualifying last after missing all the practice sessions, Hülkenberg made his way through the field and finished a fine eighth.

More substitute appearances, a full-time ride, and podium hoodoo ends

After serving as a stop-gap for Racing Point in 2020, the team now known as Aston Martin signed up Hülkenberg as its dedicated reserve driver for 2021 and beyond.

With no prospect of a full-time drive on the horizon, Hülkenberg tested an IndyCar in the closing weeks of 2021, but eventually decided against a switch to the US-based series.

Though Hülkenberg was not called upon to race in 2021, the German was pressed into action for the first two races of 2022, after Sebastian Vettel became the latest driver to be hit with Covid.

The AMR22 was not a car with which Hülkenberg could truly display his talents, but the German brought it home on both occasions, finishing ahead of Lance Stroll in Saudi Arabia.

Hülkenberg had at least managed to stay relevant and remind everyone of his presence, which worked in his favour when Haas decided to replace the error-prone Mick Schumacher for 2023.

The first season with the team was brutal as Hülkenberg managed just one top-10 finish in 24 races, claiming seventh in the third race in Australia. In tandem with team-mate Kevin Magnussen, the team finished last in the constructors'.

The following season was far more productive, with points in 10 races and an 11th-place finish in the drivers' standings. There was, though, a disqualification in São Paulo where he spun off on lap 26, but was assisted by the marshals in returning to the track.

In April that year, it was announced that Hülkenberg would leave Haas at the end of the season and return to Sauber, in its Stake F1 guise for 2025, albeit with more of an eye on the team transitioning to Audi for 2026.

It proved to be a solid season for Hülkenberg, who, on his 239th F1 start, finally netted his first podium with third in the British GP. It helped him finish 11th in the drivers' standings with 51 points, his highest tally since 2018.

For 2026, Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto will drive for Audi as it makes its debut in F1.