After 15 years and a record-breaking 239 race starts, Nico Hülkenberg finally claimed his first Formula 1 podium, finishing third at the 2025 British Grand Prix. The 37-year-old German driver, racing for Kick Sauber, delivered a masterclass in wet-weather conditions, charging from 19th on the grid to secure a long-overdue spot on the podium. The achievement shattered the previous record for the most F1 starts before a maiden podium, previously set by Carlos Sainz at 101 races.
“It’s been a long time coming, hasn’t it?” Hülkenberg beamed after the race, speaking to former F1 champion Jenson Button. “It’s pretty surreal, to be honest. Not sure how it all happened, but obviously crazy conditions, mixed conditions. It was a survival fight for a lot of the race. I think we were really on it. The right calls, the right tyres at the right moment, made no mistakes. Quite incredible.”
The chaotic, rain-hit race at Silverstone saw Hülkenberg capitalize on a perfectly executed Sauber strategy, particularly a crucial tyre decision that propelled him through the field. After Max Verstappen’s spin and a well-timed pit stop, Hülkenberg overtook Lance Stroll and held off a charging Lewis Hamilton to secure third place behind McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. “I was in denial until the last pit stop,” Hülkenberg admitted. “Then when I heard we had gapped Lewis quite a bit with the one extra lap, I was like, ‘Okay, this is good!’”
Hülkenberg’s journey to this moment has been one of resilience. Debuting in 2010 with Williams, he stunned the paddock by claiming pole position at the Brazilian Grand Prix that year. Despite near-misses—including a heartbreaking fifth place in Brazil in 2012 after leading the race—he had never stepped onto an F1 podium until now. His third-place finish also marked Sauber’s first podium since Kamui Kobayashi’s third place in Japan in 2012, lifting the team to sixth in the constructors’ standings.
The paddock erupted in celebration for the popular German driver. Max Verstappen, who finished fifth, posted on social media, “Yessss Nicooo. So happy for you.” Oscar Piastri, despite his own disappointment after a penalty cost him the win, said, “At least Hülkenberg got a podium here.” Fans on social media echoed the sentiment, with #HulkPodium trending globally as many called it “one of the most popular podiums in modern F1 history.”
Hülkenberg’s emotional rollercoaster was palpable. “It’s been an emotional weekend, 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,” he said. He also shared a lighthearted moment about the Lego trophy he received, noting, “I love Lego, my daughter can play with it too. A bit of silver or gold would have been nice too, but I won’t complain.”
His wife, Egle, shared a heartwarming video of their daughter, Noemi, jumping with joy as she watched her father lift the trophy, a moment that captured the personal significance of the milestone. The result was not just a personal triumph but a testament to Sauber’s progress, with Hülkenberg noting, “It’s a great team effort from start to finish, and I am really proud of what we achieved together.”