F1: Hulkenberg to replace ‘disappointed’ Schumacher at Haas – Gulf Digital News

F1: Hulkenberg to replace ‘disappointed’ Schumacher at Haas – Gulf Digital News

Germany's Nico Hulkenberg will make a full-time Formula One comeback at Haas next season after the US-owned team announced him on Thursday as replacement for younger compatriot Mick Schumacher.

Haas opted for experience over youth with the 35-year-old veteran, who has started 181 F1 races without once standing on the podium, joining 30-year-old Danish driver Kevin Magnussen in the lineup.

"I feel like I never really left Formula One," said Hulkenberg in a team statement ahead of the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

"I'm excited to have the opportunity to do what I love the most again... We have work ahead of us to be able to compete with all the other teams in the midfield, and I cannot wait to join that battle again."

Hulkenberg, who won the 24 Hours of Le Mans sportscar race with Porsche in 2015, last raced full-time in Formula One in 2019 with Renault and will test with Haas at Yas Marina next week.

He stood in for Mexican Sergio Perez and Canadian Lance Stroll as reserve at Racing Point in 2020 and for Sebastian Vettel at Aston Martin in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia this year. All were sidelined by Covid-19.

Team boss Guenther Steiner said Hulkenberg's experience and reputation