Nico Hülkenberg’s maiden F1 podium earns praise across the paddock

With his third place finish at the British Grand Prix Nico Hülkenberg has finally reached an F1 podium, earning praise from across the paddock

Nico Hülkenberg made his Formula 1 debut at the 2010 Bahrain Grand Prix for Williams, the first race of the 2010 campaign. Since then he has driven for several F1 teams, taken a step away from the sport, won the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and returned to drive for both Haas and now Sauber. But over 238 F1 starts he had never stepped on a podium.

Until today.

Despite lining up 19th at the British Grand Prix, his 239th F1 start, Hülkenberg carved his way through the field, mastering both tricky conditions and the bulk of the grid, to finish third for his maiden F1 podium. And as the 37-year-old veteran celebrated, praise poured in throughout the paddock for his first podium.

That praise began even as the drivers were working back to pit lane on the cooldown lap. Oscar Piastri, who felt robbed of a win after race officials handed down a ten-second penalty, said this as he wound back to the pits: “Yep, I think I’ll get myself banned for the year if I say anything here. Thanks for the effort. At least Hülkenberg got a podium here.”

As media sessions began and teams released post-race reports, praise continued to pour in from across the paddock.

“Congratulations to Nico for his podium, it’s a great achievement for him and his team,” said Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.

Lewis Hamilton, who put Hülkenberg under pressure in the final stages of the British Grand Prix for that last podium spot, also paid tribute to the veteran driver. “Third place felt within reach at times but credit to Nico on his first podium, he drove a strong race,” said Hamilton in Ferrari’s post-race report.

“Finally, congratulations to Nico on his first podium. Given his undoubted talent, he deserves it,” added Ferrari boss Frederic Vasseur.

“Firstly, congratulations to Sauber and to Nico - an extraordinary result today and well-earned in these difficult conditions,” said Williams Team Principal James Vowles.

“I am very happy for Nico [Hülkenberg] to score his first podium and I hope he enjoys the celebrations,” said fellow veteran Fernando Alonso.

Other drivers and teams took to social media with their praise, beginning with Max Verstappen:

There was even a gift of champagne, courtesy of Mercedes:

Waiting for the driver, in addition to the champagne, was rookie teammate Gabriel Bortoleto:

For his part, Hülkenberg began his post-race comments by noting that he had a podium “in me somewhere” with Jenson Button trackside.

“It’s been a long time coming, hasn’t it? But, yeah, I always knew we have it in us, I had it in me somewhere. So what a race, coming from virtually last, doing it all over again from last weekend,” said Hülkenberg. “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 calls, the right tires, at the right moment. Made no mistakes and, yeah, quite incredible.”

That continued in the FIA Press Conference.

“So, yeah, everything coming together, big relief, very happy, very positive day,” described Hülkenberg. “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.”

Asked about the celebrations on the podium — and the ten years it had been since he was last on one, which came in Le Mans in 2015 — Hülkenberg relayed that he was still “processing” the celebration.

“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,” said Hülkenberg. “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.”

As for what is possible for him and Sauber this season, Hülkenberg noted that the team is now in the midfield fight, and a “serious competitor” to boot. With his podium, Sauber rose to sixth in the F1 Constructors’ Championship standings with 41 points, five ahead of seventh-place Visa Cash App Racing Bulls and 18 behind Williams.

“Whilst we’ve made some really good improvements since Barcelona, today is obviously circumstantial, and the conditions made this race and this result possible,” said Hülkenberg. “But I feel in the midfield fight we’ve definitely gained some momentum, and we are a serious competitor there. That’s where our fight is, but it’s always about maximizing every race, every weekend, and just trying to do well.”