Sauber driver Nico Hulkenberg captured his first career podium at the British Grand Prix — ending his 14-year drought.
In a race that featured all the drama, Hulkenberg kept his composure and took home his first podium of a long career.
It took the German driver 239 races to reach a podium step.
It was the longest race stretch without a podium finish in Formula 1 history.
Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images
“I always knew, you know, we have it in us, I have it in me somewhere,” Hulkenberg said after the race.
“I mean, what a race, coming from virtually last, doing it all over again from last weekend. It’s pretty surreal, to be honest.
“Not sure how it all happened, but obviously, crazy conditions, mixed conditions. It was a survival fight for a lot of the race.
“I think we just were really on it, the right course, the right tyres, in the right moment, made no mistakes. And, yeah, quite incredible.”
Hulkenberg’s third-place finish wasn’t reflective of the car’s pace, but rather a good deal of luck that tipped the scales. However it must be said that the driver himself drove a spectacular British campaign.
There were several safety cars during the race, along with changing conditions with periods of intense rain followed by a drying track.
Sauber’s decision-makers made the right calls in terms of strategy, and Hulkenberg did a good job of preserving his intermediate tires as well.
During the last round of pit stops, Hamilton had a slow stop, which gave Hulkenberg a gap to ease off the pressure.
“Yeah, I mean today I was in denial ’till probably the last pit stop,” he said.
“And then when I heard we gapped Lewis quite a bit with the one extra lap, I was like, OK, you know, this is good. This is some breathing space.
“But then, you know, he was catching quite quickly. So, yeah, the pressure was there. It was an intense race.”
Despite the pressure from Hamilton in the Ferrari, Hulkenberg managed to stay ahead and showcased impressive driving on the wet track. He has been one of the fastest drivers on track several times in his career, but due to a lack of fortune, he never managed to capture the coveted podium finish.
After years of quality racing, Hulkenberg’s British Grand Prix finish was years in the making.
British Grand Prix Race Results
- Lando Norris – McLaren
- Oscar Piastri – McLaren
- Nico Hulkenberg – Sauber
- Lewis Hamilton – Ferrari
- Max Verstappen – Red Bull
- Pierre Gasly – Alpine
- Lance Stroll – Aston Martin
- Fernando Alonso – Aston Martin
- Alex Albon – Williams
- George Russell – Mercedes
- Oliver Bearman – Haas
- Carlos Sainz – Williams
- Esteban Ocon – Haas
- Charles Leclerc – Ferrari
- Yuki Tsunoda – Red Bull
- Kimi Antonelli – Mercedes – DNF
- Isack Hadjar – Racing Bulls – DNF
- Gabriel Bortoleto – Sauber – DNF
- Liam Lawson – Racing Bulls – DNF
- Franco Colapinto – Alpine – DNF
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