Nico Hulkenberg ended his seemingly eternal wait for a podium with a brilliant drive to finish 3rd at the British GP. The Sauber driver, whose abilities have merited far better machinery, finally secured silverware in F1 – adding to his Le Mans winners trophy.
Carlos Sainz, who praised the 37-year-old’s result, believes Hulkenberg proved his worth long before securing a podium.
Sainz: Hulkenberg podium record “completely irrelevant” to his abilities
F1, like any sport, is a results-based industry. The difference between victory and loss, being Champion or runner-up, are what drive teams in their relentless pursuit of performance.
At the same time, Formula 1 consists of more than the drivers who win races and world titles.
Over the last fifteen years, only four drivers and three teams have claimed F1 World Championships.
Needless to say, prize money is distributed to more than these teams – and fans support and observe more than a select few drivers.
Towards the end of the 2010s, it became increasingly common for F1 fans and media outlets to focus on the ‘midfield’ battles.
From the shock podiums of the 2020 season to Sauber’s unlikely points in last year’s Qatar GP, drivers throughout the field generate narratives of their own.
For Nico Hulkenberg, the fact his F1 career spans over a decade is a testament too his abilities.
The media’s borderline obsession over his podium drought meant his extremely impressive years at Sauber, Force India and Renault – where often led teams to their best seasons in the Championship – were grossly underappreciated.
After all, for drivers in the midfield, podium finishers are the exception. The bulk of their consist of their performances week-in and week-out.
In this sense, Hulkenberg often failed to receive the credit he deserved for his career.
Carlos Sainz touched on this theme after the chequered flag in Silverstone:
“Congrats – he must have done a very solid race to be up there in P3.
“Honestly, for me, the fact that people kept cursing him – the fact that he didn’t have any podiums, for me it was completely irrelevant.
“For me, he’s always been a top-five driver in the grid every time he’s been in F1.
“His level of talent and race execution is incredible.”
Sauber on track for unprecedented season
Initially, Hulkenberg’s decision to join Sauber – and by extension the Audi project – seemed a logical one at the beginning of 2024.
However, as Haas improved and Sauber stagnated, there were concerns about whether Hulkenberg made the correct decision.
The obstacles Audi will inevitably face with the 2026 regulations only made these fears more acute.
Thankfully for Hulkenberg, a series of mid-season updates starting at the Spanish GP have transformed Sauber’s campaign.
His race in Silverstone, characterised by excellent pace, bold strategic calls and no mistakes, finally got him over the line and onto the podium steps.
Still, this does not mean Hulkenberg’s season has no more stories to tell.
The Le Mans winner will be fighting in a very intense midfield battle for the remaining twelve rounds.
Much like the majority of his career, the 37-year-old is tasked again tasked with leading his team up the standings.
This time, however, he can do so without recurring questions about his podium record.
Main photo: Photo by Zak Mauger/LAT Images (Sauber media gallery)
