For Nico Hulkenberg, “music is definitely important.” As he tells Apple Music, “It helps me switch off, focus, and get into the right headspace before getting in the car.” The German racer left Haas for Swiss constructor Sauber in 2025, and following their acquisition by Audi, he became one of the German team’s two drivers in their inaugural year. The longtime fan favorite gave us one of the 2025 season’s top highlights when, after 239 race starts, he finished third at Silverstone, achieving his first-ever podium. Looking ahead to the rest of 2026, he’s made a playlist of the music he uses to get himself in the zone. “As you can probably tell from my playlist, it’s pretty mixed,” he says of his selections, which range from hip-hop (Drake, Coolio) and pop (Katy Perry, Mariah Carey) to electronic (Calvin Harris, deadmau5) and R&B (Aaliyah, Ginuwine). “It really depends on my mood in the moment.” But if he had to pick one artist he loves most, it’s The Weeknd: “His music puts me in a good mood and is always easy to listen to.”