Nico Hulkenberg reflects on first F1 podium in British GP, as he notes where it became a reality, while his rivals share their views.
Having had two good results in the last two races, Sauber did not have the best of starts in F1 British GP. Hulkenberg was stationed in the last row and was actually last in 19th since Franco Colapinto was to start from the pitlane. By the end of the first part of the grand prix, he was up in fifth.
The weather conditions played a key role and Sauber pitted him at the right moment to hand him positions without having to clear that many cars. By the end of it, he was tucked behind Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll in fifth, which became a fight for fourth after Max Verstappen spun down.
Hulkenberg had Lewis Hamilton in the chase, but a bit far off with Pierre Gasly in between. The German managed to clear Stroll for third. In the meantime, Hamilton had passed Gasly and also made a quick work of the Canadian to be fourth. He got on the tail of the Sauber soon enough.
But he did not have the tyres at hand after all the fight. Hamilton changed to soft, while Hulkenberg opted for medium. But the Brit had a moment at pit exit, where he dropped by 5-6s. That was the opening that the German needed and he eventually maintained his position.
In his 239th start, Hulkenberg finally got his first F1 podium. The German was naturally emotional while talking reflecting on the feat. He went through the moments during the race when he thought that a podium is reality. His rivals were happy for his achievement as well.
Feeling –
Hulkenberg: “Happy, but it’s a lot to take in, to process. It’s been a very intense race. I think Lando has put it pretty well. It’s so intense for us in the car in these changeable conditions on a damp track. You always feel like with one foot you’re in the wall when you’re exploring and on the limit and then trying to push. So, yeah, very intense. Obviously, it was a kind of a distance battle with Lewis at the end who was making up some ground, but not enough, luckily for us at the end. So, yeah, everything coming together, big relief, very happy, very positive day. From a massive low yesterday being almost last, literally on the grid, to this result is kind of surreal. It’s going to take a few days to process everything and take it all in. Good news is we have two weeks now to enjoy it and to celebrate it properly over the next week before we go again.”
When realised about podium –
Hulkenberg: “Before we pitted back onto slicks. I passed Lance, then Lewis passed Lance pretty quickly, and then I was able to keep him at bay and even pull away when the Inters started to wear more and more. So I was like, that was looking pretty positive and encouraging. Then I think we made a really good call by stopping one lap later than he did for the slicks, and we gained I think around ten seconds. That gap was crucial. From there onwards, felt like a pretty long ten, 11, 12 laps, whatever it was. But from there onwards, I knew we have every chance to get this result. We just needed to keep it on the road while pushing.”
Celebrating on podium, LEGO trophy (asked by Oscar Piastri) –
Hulkenberg: “Felt good. I still remembered how to do it. Used to do it a lot in the junior stuff and then had to wait for it quite a bit. But it just happened so quick, the race, and you’re still processing that. Then so many emotions, so many people coming at you, a lot of positivity, a lot of congratulations. At the moment just happy, relieved. But like I said, it’s going to sink in more over the next few hours and the next few days, and I think I’ll feel the enjoyment even more in the week to come. Yeah. I love Lego! It’s good. My daughter can play with it too. You’ve always got to see the bright side. But, you know, a bit of silver or gold would have been nice too, but I won’t complain.”
Strategy and how it came about –
Hulkenberg: “It’s true. We pitted from inters to inters. Obviously, it was drying out. The inter was wearing down, the first set from the start, but the team said there’s some rain about. It actually changed within one or two laps from a pretty bright sky to dark clouds and I was just dropping back. I was really struggling with that first set. They said the rain is coming, so I just dived into the pits, to be honest, without thinking too much at the time and then went out and the rain started. It was really good timing. All the stops we made today, they could not have been better. We pitted at the perfect time every single time, which is very rare and difficult to do.
“But it’s just how it happened today, and we really hit that one on the head. Behind Lance, he was quick. We had very similar pace, but then on that set of Intermediates, he eventually was just degging off a bit more than me when the track dried out. So, it just took a while to find a way through. But I wasn’t even really thinking about the podium there. We were running P5, I think P4 at the time, so it was already pretty good. I was just about keeping it going and making no mistakes.”
Thought about German GP shunt, same weather –
Hulkenberg: “Yeah. I mean, it’s… I thought about it. But today is better.”
What did F1 drivers said on it –
Max Verstappen: “Fantastic. I’m really happy for him. It was very nice to see because I guess when you are in F1 for such a long time, you have not been on the podium and being so close a few times, I think this is pretty special for him. I think for Nico, he’s quite relaxed in that sense, right? He knows what he can do. He has shown that also in the past, before Formula 1 and in Formula 1. But yes, for whatever reason, it didn’t work out up until now. So for sure, he will take it and he will be very happy. But I think he knows anyway how good he is. A podium does not suddenly say that you are a lot better. It’s just really nice for him to at least be on an F1 podium.”
Oscar Piastri: “Well done to Nico. I think that’s the highlight of the day.”
Fernando Alonso: “Sure I mean it’s the first podium I think for him no so super happy for him you know. One of the best drivers on the grid and never had the opportunity to have a proper car underneath, and I’m very, very truly happy for him, so I hope he enjoyed today.”
Carlos Sainz: “I mean, he must have done a very solid race to be up there in P3. Honestly, for me the fact that people could keep cursing the fact that he didn’t have any podiums for me was completely irrelevant. For me it’s always been a top five driver, in the grid every time we’ve been in F1. His level of talent and race execution is incredible. I was his teammate for a time and the fact that he didn’t have a podium was just circumstantial and due to his things that he had been driven in or anything. So I’m glad he has his podium now to shut up everyone that doubted him. For me I never doubted him and I knew he was one day or always going to be a podium.”
Gabriel Bortoleto: “I am happy for Nico, the team deserved it. They all deserve some good points and a podium for the first time for Nico. Congratulations to Nico! Seeing him fight for the podium and achieve this result after so many years in Formula 1 means a lot. He is the best teammate I have ever worked with – both as a driver and as a person – and he absolutely deserves this moment: I am genuinely happy for him. The whole team was screaming and jumping, I didn’t have the radio, I was just jumping with the engineers and mechanics and everyone. I went running to the podium because I wanted to give a hug to Nico because it was spectacular.”
Lewis Hamilton: “Third place felt within reach at times but credit to Nico on his first podium, he drove a strong race.”
Charles Leclerc: “That’s incredible. Checking that, I didn’t know it was Gabriel or Nico, I was on my own in last. I had the luxury to be able to look at the big screens in the last two or three laps and when I saw the green, ‘I was like what the hell was going on there’! It was Nico, so congrats to him, he must have done an incredible race.”
Esteban Ocon: “Well done to Nico. There was an opportunity [for us]. These are usually the ones that I peak, so I am pretty pissed off about this race.”
Alexander Albon: “Amazing. I really like Nico and I feel like the podium, he fully deserves. I had to double check that it was his first podium. Long overdue, definitely. He’s a bit of animal behind the wheel and he deserves it.”
Pierre Gasly: “No way! That’s nice, congrats to Nico. Been a longtime coming, so good for him.”
Here’s video montage: https://www.formula1.com/en/video/the-longest-wait-hulkenberg-takes-podium-after-239-f1-starts.1836921858346056214
Here’s Lewis Hamilton not catching Nico Hulkenberg
Here’s how F1 British GP panned out
