Nico Hulkenberg has finally broken his Formula 1 podium duck, claiming a sensational third place in a dramatic and rain-soaked British Grand Prix – 15 years and 239 races after making his debut.
The 37-year-old German driver, who started from the back row of the grid, defied the odds and climbed to third following a masterfully timed strategy from his Sauber team. The result sets a new record for the longest wait before a first podium in F1 history – 5,593 days since his debut for Williams at the 2010 Bahrain Grand Prix.
“It’s been an emotional rollercoaster this weekend,” Hulkenberg said. “Being virtually last [on Saturday], so a pretty bad day, to one of the best days of my career – it’s obviously a lot to take in.”
The race itself was chaotic, with constantly changing conditions adding to the challenge of the high-speed Silverstone circuit. Hulkenberg described it as “intense” and “sketchy”, and while relieved to finally reach the podium, he admitted he felt “pretty empty” after the physically and emotionally draining race.
“While I’m happy and relieved, I’m mostly tired, and looking forward to getting home, to be honest,” he added.
The result moves Hulkenberg up to ninth in the drivers’ standings, thanks to a strong run of form including points in the three previous rounds.
It was his rookie team-mate at Sauber, 19-year-old Gabriel Bortoleto – 17 years his junior – who was among the first to congratulate him over team radio, declaring: “Man, you don’t know how happy I am for you. You are a legend. Absolutely insane what you did today.”
Throughout his lengthy career, Hulkenberg had come close to the podium on multiple occasions. He finished fourth twice with Force India and once during a previous stint with Sauber in 2013. Perhaps most heartbreakingly, he looked on course for victory at the 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix before a collision with Lewis Hamilton – then driving for McLaren – earned him a drive-through penalty, leaving him fifth.
Fittingly, it was Hamilton – now in a Ferrari – whom Hulkenberg had to fend off in the closing stages at Silverstone to secure the long-awaited podium.
“That race was intense… It was a survival fight for a lot of the race,” said Hulkenberg. “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.”
Even some of his rivals, whose own races had unravelled, found joy in the veteran’s breakthrough moment. Oscar Piastri, penalised during the race and forced to watch his team-mate Lando Norris take the home win, summed up the sentiment: “At least Hulkenberg got a podium here.”
After 15 years of near misses, heartbreaks and grit, Hulkenberg’s long-awaited reward has finally arrived – a moment worth the wait.