Haas has signed Nico Hulkenberg to contest the 2023 season alongside Kevin Magnussen.

Hulkenberg (35), a Formula 1 veteran with 181 career starts and a 2015 24 Hours of Le Mans race winner with Porsche, makes his full-time return to the sport next year with the American squad having spent the past two seasons in the role of reserve driver for Aston Martin.

Hulkenberg was active in the 2022 season standing in for Sebastian Vettel at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix and again at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, but the Emmerich-born racer made his first Formula 1 start back in 2010 debuting for Williams at the Bahrain Grand Prix following a stellar junior career.

A champion in the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport with Team Germany in 2006-07, Hulkenberg then won the 2008 Formula 3 Euro Series followed by the 2009 GP2 Series (now known as the FIA Formula 2 Championship) - prompting a swift graduation into Formula 1 for 2010.

Having raced for Williams, Force India, Sauber, Renault, Racing Point and Aston Martin, Hulkenberg has amassed 521 career points - including one pole position (Brazil 2010), two fastest laps and a best-finish of fourth three times.

The German holds a qualifying resume which includes 94 Q3 appearances. A career high of seventh place in the driver standings came with Renault back in the 2018 season.

"I'm naturally very pleased to be welcoming Nico back to a full-time racing role in Formula 1," said Guenther Steiner. "The experience and knowledge base Nico brings to the team is clear to see - with nearly 200 career starts in Formula 1 - and a reputation as being a great qualifier and a solid, reliable racer. These are attributes, which when you pair them together with Kevin Magnussen's experience, gives us a very credible and well-seasoned driver line-up which we believe will help push the team onwards up the grid. That's obviously the goal and it was that ambition that has prompted Nico's return to Formula 1 - he shares our vision and can be a key player together with the rest of the team in building on the foundations we've laid this year with our return to the points battle."

"I'm very happy to move into a full-time race seat with Haas in 2023," added Hulkenberg. "I feel like I never really left Formula 1. I'm excited to have the opportunity to do what I love the most again and want to thank Gene Haas and Gunther Steiner for their trust. 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 will start work for Haas on Tuesday 22nd November participating in the end of season test hosted in Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit - piloting this season's VF-22 alongside the team's test and reserve driver Pietro Fittipaldi in the second car.

Hulkenberg's signing means that Mick Schumacher will leave at the conclusion of the season.

The German driver joined the team in December 2020 having won the F2 championship that year. Over two full seasons competing in F1 Schumacher has scored a best result of sixth place for Haas in the 2022 Austrian Grand Prix, one week after collecting his maiden points for an eighth-place finish at the British Grand Prix. He currently sits 16th in the driver standings on 12 points.

"I would like to thank Mick for his contribution to the team over the past couple of years," said Steiner. "His pedigree in the junior categories was well known and he has continued to grow and develop as a driver in his time with Haas - culminating in his first Formula 1 points-scoring successes earlier this season.

"While choosing to go in separate directions for the future the entire team wishes Mick well for the next steps in his career path and beyond."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Max Noble, 24/11/2022 10:23

"Fascinated to see how this works out. Thier new driver being one of the oldest on the grid… Could be a restatement that 55 is the new 35… :-). (Of which I’m fully supportive…). Let’s see if Mercedes sign Mick as they have intimated… They would love to prove to Ferrari they can develop young drivers, whereas Ferrari kill them…"

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2. Posted by Rock Doc, 18/11/2022 15:30

"Sensible choice for Haas. When Kevin came back he showed them what the car was really capable of. This is just what they need to be able to move forwards.

Also young drivers tend to break cars a lot, so the cost cap may be one of the reasons why they are looking for more reliable/experienced hands on the wheel.

Great to see the Nico back on the grid for a season and not just the odd race."

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3. Posted by Endre, 17/11/2022 13:06

"I totally understand their decision. This is a small team with small budget, what they need the most, are reliable and experienced drivers who can bring out what's in the car on a consistent basis and provide accurate feedback for development. They should not have used young drivers at all and Steiner learned his lesson."

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4. Posted by Batman, 17/11/2022 11:49

""The Revenge of the Expendables". They don't forget, they don't forgive!!! Watch your Haas and and secure your ba**s."

Official: Hulkenberg joins Haas for 2023

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