Exclusive: 'Sexy' Hulkenberg details key to extended F1 career

In a RacingNews365 exclusive, Nico Hulkenberg has detailed the "sexy" key to extending a career in Formula 1. 

The German driver moves to Stake Sauber for next season on a multi-year contract, ready for Audi's arrival in 2026 when the new power unit regulations are introduced. 

Hulkenberg's F1 career started back in 2010 at Williams, with a shock pole position in São Paulo having been claimed in his debut season. 

He spent a year off the grid in 2011, before a stint in the midfield at Force India from 2012-2016, prior to being handed a big move to the factory Renault outfit.

Unfortunately, he was axed after three seasons with the Enstone-based team, having struggled alongside Daniel Ricciardo in 2019 in particular. 

Whilst a reserve role at Racing Point/Aston Martin was secured, Hulkenberg's F1 career looked to be over. However, two stand-in appearances for Aston Martin in 2022, proved that the German still had something to offer. 

He was poached by Haas to make his full-time return the following year, and has spent the past two seasons magnificently leading the American outfit. 

Despite now being 37 years old, Hulkenberg is performing at his very best, which has warranted his Sauber switch despite a new wave of young talent, something he is not concerned about.

"I'm not too busy about it, I don't spend a lot of time thinking about it," Hulkenberg told RacingNews365. "Look, I think F1 is a very simple business, it's very performance orientated.

"If you perform, you're attractive, you're sexy, and you're wanted by teams. It's as simple as that, and I've been on both sides. 

"I've been on the side when it's not good enough and they don't want you anymore, and I've been now fortunate enough to be on the good side of things because I keep performing."

No retirement plan yet

In the past, F1 drivers have sometimes struggled to perform following a sabbatical, most recently, Hulkenberg's former Renault team-mate, Ricciardo.

However, if anything, Hulkenberg has driven at his highest-ever level since making his full-time comeback. 

Now, he has the satisfaction of racing for what will be a new works team in 2026, by at which point he will be 38 years old. 

Whilst he is one of the oldest drivers on the grid, retirement is not something the German has thought about. 

"I'm enjoying myself, I'm having a good time, so I make the most of it," added Hulkenberg. 

"For me, it's important as long as I feel that I'm quick enough that I can challenge and beat the young guys and contribute for a team. 

"As long as that's the case, I think I will have a job and I will be here. Personally, when I feel I don't have what it takes anymore, I would probably be the first one to admit that and then to walk away."

The 2025 F1 grid, remarkably, will feature six full-time rookies, one of which is alongside Hulkenberg at Stake. Hulkenberg will be partnered by Formula 2 champion Gabriel Bortoleto.

It is a wave of young talent which comes after the initial 2024 grid was the same which ended the 2023 season.

A new generation is flooding into F1, something which has not surprised Hulkenberg who thinks young talent is starting to be favoured over experience.

"I think it's not all of a sudden, it's normal," he insisted. "I mean, it's life. People grow older, the next generation comes, you know? 

"And sometimes there's a change of guard. I think over the last, I don't know, five, six years, we had more kind of experience [on the grid] and a little bit older drivers.

"Now, it's a shift towards towards younger drivers. I think that happens every I don't know, five to 10 years, and I think it's quite natural."