Nico Hulkenberg is unfazed by the sudden departure from the Audi project of former Sauber CEO Andreas Seidl, noting that “everyone is kind of changeable.”
Hulkenberg was originally signed by his former Porsche WEC boss Seidl and team chairman Oliver Hoffman, who has also been ousted by Audi CEO Gernot Dollner.
“Of course, they were influential,” Hulkenberg said of Seidl and Hoffman. “These were the two guys we did the deal with. So obviously, kind of an unexpected change.”
“I was informed the day of the announcement about the group’s decision by Gernot Dollner himself. And that’s the group’s decision, that they want to change moving forward.”
“I think big projects like this you have in the management people that are big pillars of such projects. But they never just rely on one or two persons. So in F1 everyone is kind of changeable.”
“And in terms of Mattia, I know him, obviously from the past, from the paddock. I’ve never worked with him, but that will change in a few months.”
Hulkenberg denied a suggestion that the changes hinted at an instability that he might find concerning.
“Not concerned,” he said. “That was obviously a bit of a wave, a bit of a shock, but now obviously it’s back to business. And I still look forward to joining that project, and to make it a successful story with Audi.
“The fact that two people that were closely involved in signing me are not there anymore is of course, maybe a bit sad. But I’m more interested about the project, joining F1 with Audi, and making it a successful story.”
Hulkenberg agreed that a push for change from top management could be seen as a positive sign: “I think it shows that the CEO of Audi and that everyone is looking, they’re aware, they are involved.
“The fact that they take action means that they’re very much involved and invested in it, and hands-on. And that’s, I think, good and positive news.”
He acknowledged that this hasn’t been a good year for Sauber, with no points scored and the cars sometimes the slowest on the grid.
“Obviously, I see it weekend in, weekend out, because they are in our group of teams, and cars that we compete against,” he said.
“And it’s a very fine line between hero and zero. And two-tenths can mean you have a very different weekend, very good or very bad.
“So I witness that every weekend, and I know that small things can have a very big impact and make a big change and big difference.
“I’m still confident going there next year, that with some more positive inputs in their side, and some things I can bring and maybe change, we can turn it around even already next year.
“I’m not saying a huge step, but it only takes a few small steps in the midfield to be at the right end of it. So I’ll remain positive, and that’s all I’d say. It’s so tight that really small things can make a big difference.”
