On January 20 in Berlin, Audi’s factory team will officially unveil its first Formula 1 car. In its debut season, the team will be represented by Brazilian prospect Gabriel Bortoleto and one of the most experienced drivers in the paddock, 38-year-old Nico Hülkenberg.
Ahead of the presentation, Hülkenberg has already revealed his helmet design for the 2026 season, describing it as “special.” The new look pairs well with Audi’s black race suit and reflects the German driver’s confident mindset.
According to Austria’s Osterreich, Hulkenberg’s contract with Audi includes not only a base salary of around €5 million, but also a substantial bonus structure of €50,000 for each championship point scored. For comparison, his third-place finish at Silverstone last season alone would have earned him €750,000, while his 51 points in the 2025 championship could have generated more than €2.5 million in bonuses.
Predicting Audi’s results in its first season remains difficult. The team faces the challenge of adapting to next-generation machinery while establishing effective cooperation between its base in Hinwil, the power unit department in Neuburg, and the new Audi Technical Centre in the United Kingdom. Nevertheless, Hulkenberg’s experience and additional financial motivation could prove to be key factors in the project’s debut year.
