Nico Hulkenberg Delivers Long-Awaited First F1 Podium in British GP Shocker
Some stories in Formula One feel like they might never happen. For Nico Hulkenberg, that wait is finally over.
After years of frustration and near misses, the Sauber driver pulled off a breathtaking performance at Silverstone to secure his first-ever podium — a result that seemed impossible until the final laps.
It wasn’t just a good race. It was the race that broke the curse.
Hulkenberg, known for his resilience and unlucky streak, made his 239th start at the British Grand Prix. This time, everything clicked. This time, he finished third.
“I don’t think I can comprehend what we’ve just done,” Hulkenberg said over the radio, his voice carrying both shock and relief.
The achievement didn’t come from pole position. Far from it. Hulkenberg started deep in the pack, lining up 19th on the grid, with only Alpine’s Franco Colapinto starting from the pit lane behind him. Most would have written his race off right there.
But Formula One rarely sticks to the script.
Through a perfect blend of quick decisions, clever tyre calls, and pure consistency, Hulkenberg rose through the field while others slipped up in the mixed conditions.
“It feels good. It’s been a long time coming, hasn’t it?” he smiled, finally able to shake off the label that had followed him for years.
Sauber’s garage erupted. The last time they touched a podium was 13 years ago. Hulkenberg’s stunning drive didn’t just break his personal drought — it reignited the team’s spirit.
“I always knew we have it in us, I had it in me somewhere… 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.”
His timing was perfect. When chaos struck, Hulkenberg remained calm. Right tyres, right moments, no errors.
“I think we just were really on it. The right calls, the right tyres, at the right moment. Made no mistakes and, yeah, quite incredible.”
Yet the fairytale nearly slipped away. Nine-time British Grand Prix winner Lewis Hamilton was charging from behind, closing the gap with his Ferrari. Another near-miss seemed to be looming. But Hulkenberg held his nerve.
“I think I was in denial until probably the last pit stop, you know, and then when I heard we gapped Lewis quite a bit with the one extra lap, I was like, ‘Okay, this is good, this is some breathing space’,” he explained.
The final laps were tense. Everyone watching knew what was at stake. Everyone watching knew Hulkenberg’s story. But this time, there would be no heartbreak.
Jonathan Wheatley, Sauber’s team principal and former Red Bull strategist, summed it up with raw admiration.
“I think he was almost in a state of shock when I saw him under the podium,” Wheatley said.
“Nico drove an outstanding race today. One of the best I’ve seen at Silverstone and one of the best I’ve seen of any driver ever.
“I’ve considered him to be an extraordinary talent for a very long time… I think he showed today what he’s capable of. The monkey’s off his back.”
Sauber’s turnaround is now gathering pace, with the team pushing up to sixth in the Constructors’ standings as they prepare to join forces with Audi in the coming years.
For Hulkenberg, this wasn’t just a podium. It was a breakthrough. Proof that persistence, skill, and timing can finally tilt fortune’s scale.
It’s been a long time coming. But now, Nico Hulkenberg’s wait is over — and so is the story that said he never would.
Want to know what’s next? Check out the full 2025 F1 Schedule to follow Hulkenberg and Sauber through the rest of the season.
