Nico Hülkenberg delivered an incredibly strong performance in Austin. The German driver secured an impressive fourth place in the sprint qualifying, marking his first appearance in SQ3 this season and his best qualifying performance of 2025 so far.
Hülkenberg’s speed did not come as a complete surprise. Earlier in the day, he had already sent a clear signal during free practice, where he clocked the second fastest time behind Lando Norris. He managed to maintain this form in the sprint qualifying. In all three parts of the sprint qualifying, he remained flawless and extracted the maximum from the C45. An interesting detail: Hülkenberg was the fastest driver with a Ferrari engine, outpacing even both factory Ferraris — a feat that further underscores the strength of his lap.
For Sauber, the result is a pleasant surprise. The past race weekends did not yield the results the team had hoped for. The fourth starting position offers the prospect of serious points in the sprint race — and perhaps even more, should Nico Hülkenberg maintain his form.
