A leaked contract rumor has set the Formula 1 community buzzing. Reports claim Nico Hülkenberg’s new deal with Audi (previously Sauber) includes a major bonus for every championship point he scores.
According to the rumor, Hülkenberg would earn $50,000 per point. Fans quickly calculated the impact using his strong 2025 season, where he finished 11th with 51 points.
If the clause had applied last year, Hülkenberg would have earned an extra $2.55 million. This would be on top of his estimated $7 million base salary for the 2026 season.
The timing makes the rumor more believable for some fans. Audi is preparing for its full factory entry in 2026 and is expected to rely heavily on Hülkenberg’s experience and consistency.
His stock rose sharply after the 2025 British Grand Prix. At Silverstone, he finished third from 19th on the grid, securing his first-ever F1 podium after 239 race starts.
The story has drawn comparisons to Kimi Räikkönen’s infamous Lotus contract. Lotus agreed to pay Räikkönen €50,000 per point in 2012 and 2013, expecting modest results.
Instead, Räikkönen scored 390 points over two seasons. Lotus ended up owing him €19.5 million in bonuses, which caused serious financial trouble for the team.
Audi has not confirmed the reported clause. Still, the rumor highlights the high expectations surrounding Hülkenberg as he enters what many fans now call the strongest phase of his career.
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