Amidst all the drama involving Max Verstappen, George Russell, and Charles Leclerc, Nico Hülkenberg drove his best race in a long time. The 37-year-old Sauber driver initially crossed the finish line in sixth place, but due to Max Verstappen’s time penalty, he inherited fifth place. The German praises the team’s latest upgrades and is grateful that Sauber has taken an ‘important step’ towards greater competitiveness in the midfield.
“Today everything fell into place,” Nico Hülkenberg responded after the race. “A good start and a great first lap, where I was able to gain many positions right away – that was really the foundation for a good race.” The German star did benefit from all the chaos – think of the restart after the safety car – but also simply had a capable car. “Honestly, we just had a good car. The rhythm, the balance, the harmony – the upgrades really paid off. It was great to see.”
The fact that Hülkenberg managed to drive his Sauber into the points was already an impressive achievement. That he could push through to fifth place made it all the more special. “I think I was in P8 before the safety car, and then the safety car threw the race a bit into disarray,” he explained. “In the end, it was the golden tip to drop out during Q1 in qualifying,” he added with a grin. “As a result, I had enough new tires – quite ironic, but today it paid off.”
‘Important Step’
Sauber’s upgrade package improved the consistency and balance of the car, as Hülkenberg demonstrated. He even managed to outsmart Lewis Hamilton‘s Ferrari. Yet, ‘Hulk’ remains grounded. “I think Lewis was driving on used soft tires, and mine were completely new,” he explained. “It shows the difference between used and new rubbers. One lap already costs a lot of lifespan.”
“Of course, it was nice to overtake him (Hamilton), but I don’t think we’re really fighting with the big boys,” he concluded. “We have, however, made a significant stride in the battle with the other mid-field teams.” P5 was Nico Hülkenberg’s best result since the 2019 Italian GP. A podium finish is still pending. His teammate and rookie, Gabriel Bortoleto, crossed the finish line in twelfth place, his highest ever finish in Formula 1.
Teammate Gabriel Bortoleto congratulated Nico Hülkenberg in the parc fermé (Sauber).
