Nico Hulkenberg visited Sauber’s Formula 1 headquarters in Hinwil following his surprising podium finish at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone last weekend. This achievement marked Hulkenberg’s first podium in his 239th race and gave Sauber their first top-three finish since the 2012 Japanese Grand Prix, as he secured third place ahead of local favorite Lewis Hamilton.

As the race ended, Hulkenberg was immediately embraced by his Sauber teammates, who celebrated jubilantly with champagne at the garage and hospitality areas. His success continued to be honored in the following days when Hulkenberg traveled to the Hinwil factory, sharing the moment with team members who had not witnessed the race in person.

Monday night I came to Hinwil to capture the moment and obviously our success from yesterday with all the factory people as well,

Hulkenberg explained in a social media video.

He expressed strong emotions seeing his colleagues’ happiness, recognizing the collective effort behind the achievement.

Generally big thanks to all the fans that support us. Thank you very much, we’ll keep pushing this season. We can’t expect this every weekend now, but I think we’re definitely good for some midfield fights and I look forward to the rest of the season.

Sauber’s Resurgence Highlights Hulkenberg’s Impact

Sauber’s 2025 campaign has been one of fluctuating fortunes. Early in the season, the team often struggled to advance beyond Q1, only to deliver notable results in Austria and Britain with a sudden accumulation of points. Following Hulkenberg’s podium, Sauber has climbed to sixth place in the constructors’ standings, now trailing Williams by 18 points as they fight for position ahead.

At the Silverstone post-race press conference, Hulkenberg attempted to describe the whirlwind of emotions after finally reaching his first Formula 1 podium.

Happy, but, you know, it’s a lot to take in, to process. It’s been a very intense race,

Hulkenberg said.

He reflected on the demanding nature of racing in ever-changing conditions on a damp track, requiring careful but aggressive driving on the limits of control.

Hulkenberg also recounted his tense duel with Lewis Hamilton, who was closing in rapidly toward the end, but could not quite overtake him. He described the experience as surreal, particularly considering the contrast between starting almost last on the grid and finishing on the podium.

Good news is we have two weeks now to enjoy it and to celebrate it properly over the next week before we go again.

Looking Ahead to Spa and the Season’s Challenges

Formula 1 will next head to the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps for the Belgian Grand Prix from July 25. As Sauber and Hulkenberg enjoy the momentum gained from this breakthrough result, their focus remains on sustaining progress and competing strongly within the midfield pack.

This milestone podium is not only a personal success for Hulkenberg but also a morale boost for the entire Sauber team, showcasing how persistence and teamwork can yield results even after difficult periods. Their rise in the constructors‘ championship signals a potential shift in competitive dynamics among F1 teams currently battling outside the top tiers.