Formula 1 veteran and analyst Ralf Schumacher is once again advocating for a collaboration between Max Verstappen and Nico Hülkenberg. Red Bull was on the verge of signing the German Sauber driver in 2020, but ultimately chose Sergio Pérez. Over the years, Verstappen has gone through several teammates — another change is expected in 2025. According to Schumacher, he would have gotten along well with Hülkenberg, a proven force in Formula 1.
In the German-language Backstage Boxengasse podcast by Sky Sports, Ralf Schumacher was asked why Nico Hülkenberg would be a good fit for Max Verstappen. Schumacher had previously advised Red Bull to recruit Hülkenberg. “I think it’s because they get along well,” he responded. “In addition, I believe Max would appreciate him more than some of his previous teammates.”
Hülkenberg’s Influence at Sauber
“Well, that’s just how it goes,” Schumacher sighed. “He also didn’t have a bad start at Sauber; things are slowly moving in the right direction. We can see this in the results.” Upon request, the German explained the role Hülkenberg plays in the team’s rebuilding process. The Swiss racing team has already collected more points this season than in all of 2024. During the Spanish GP, Hülkenberg even finished fifth.
“The engineers, of course, have the exact data, but a driver can indicate: ‘I can’t go any faster here, because this is what the car does’,” Schumacher explained. “These details are discussed, and then the best combination is sought between what the theory says and what the driver feels. That’s why the driver’s influence is so important. I don’t want to shortchange anyone, but I can imagine that Sauber has received the best feedback in years with Hülkenberg. He really makes a difference. He has a tremendous amount of experience and has performed strongly for all the teams he has driven for.”
