After 15 years and 239 races, Nico Hülkenberg has finally achieved what many thought might never come a Formula 1 podium. In an unforgettable British Grand Prix at Silverstone, the Kick Sauber driver stormed from 19th on the grid to finish third, marking his first-ever top-three finish in the sport.
A Long Time Coming
Hülkenberg made his F1 debut with Williams back in 2010. Since then, the German has built a reputation as a consistent and skilled racer but had never managed to reach the podium. Before Silverstone, his best result had been fourth place a finish he achieved three times across his career.
But on a wet and unpredictable race day at Silverstone, Hülkenberg finally broke through, finishing behind only McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
From 19th to 3rd in Style
The conditions at Silverstone were tricky a mix of rain and dry spells that caught many drivers out. But Hülkenberg and the Kick Sauber team got everything right. From tyre strategy to pit timing, it was a near-perfect performance that saw the German driver climb 16 positions.
“Coming from virtually last and doing it all over again from last weekend, was pretty surreal,” said a smiling Hülkenberg post-race. “Not sure how it all happened… It was a survival fight for a lot of the race. We made no mistakes, and it’s quite incredible.”
Holding Off Hamilton
A key moment in Hülkenberg’s race was his defensive driving against seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton. The Mercedes driver, racing in front of his home crowd, pushed hard in the closing stages, but Hülkenberg held firm under pressure.
“Obviously I was thinking Lewis is going to give it all in front of his home crowd and I was like, ‘Sorry guys it’s also my day!’” Hülkenberg joked after the race.
He added, “I think I was in denial until the last pit stop. But when I heard we had gapped Lewis quite a bit, I thought, ‘Okay, this is good!’ The pressure was there, but we didn’t crack.”
A Big Win for Kick Sauber
Hülkenberg’s third-place finish wasn’t just a personal milestone it also helped Kick Sauber climb to sixth in the Constructors’ Championship. The team now sits on 41 points, five ahead of Racing Bulls and Aston Martin.
This result also marks Hülkenberg’s fourth consecutive top-10 finish, underlining the team’s growing competitiveness in 2025.
A Moment to Celebrate
As he finally sprayed champagne on the podium, Hülkenberg reflected on what the achievement meant after so many years in the sport. “It’s been a long time coming, hasn’t it?” he said. “I always knew we had it in us. What a race.”
For fans and followers of F1, Hülkenberg’s podium is more than just a great result it’s a celebration of persistence, skill, and resilience. And now, after 239 starts, Nico Hülkenberg has finally joined the list of F1 podium finishers and done so in unforgettable fashion.
