- Nico Hulkenberg claimed his first-ever Formula 1 podium at the British Grand Prix on Sunday, July 6, 2025, at Silverstone.
- Lando Norris won the British Grand Prix for the first time after Oscar Piastri received a 10-second time penalty for a Safety Car infringement.
- It took Hülkenberg 238 races since his debut in 2010 to finally secure a podium finish.
After 15 years and making 238 Formula 1 race starts without securing a podium, German driver Nico Hulkenberg finally broke the drought on Sunday evening by clinching third place at the British Grand Prix.
Having debuted as a rookie in 2010, Hulkenberg had to wait until his 239th race, on a rain-soaked track with intermediate tyres, to propel himself to a long-awaited podium finish.
Despite finishing 38 seconds behind McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, who was handed a time penalty, Hulkenberg secured third place as Lando Norris took the victory, marking his maiden win on home soil at Silverstone.
On a weekend riddled with unpredictable weather, many had tipped the formidable Lewis Hamilton, who eventually finished fourth, to claim a podium.
Though he drove a commendable race, it was Hulkenberg who held his ground, astonishing fans by climbing from 19th on the grid to finish third.
Driving for the underdog Kick Sauber team, Hulkenberg tamed the treacherous conditions of a wild Silverstone circuit that saw even dominant figures like reigning world champion Max Verstappen falter, along with both Mercedes drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli.
Meanwhile, Hamilton’s teammate Charles Leclerc had an underwhelming outing and was largely anonymous throughout the race.
Nico Hulkenberg overwhelmed after his first ever F1 podium
Speaking after the historic result, the 37-year-old couldn’t contain his elation:
It has been a long time coming, hasn’t it? I always knew we have it in us, I have it in me somewhere. What a race, coming from virtually last, doing it all over again from last weekend, it’s pretty surreal to be honest,” he told Jenson Button.
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 just on it, the right calls, the right tyres, the right moment, made no mistakes and yeah, quite incredible.”
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He further revealed how he managed to fend off a charging Hamilton, who was breathing down his neck for much of the final stint, with just a five-second gap between them.
Hulkenberg added: “Today, I was in denial until like probably the last pit stop, then I head we gapped Lewis quite a bit with the extra lap, I was like OK this is good. Gives some breathing space but you know he was catching quite quickly.
The pressure was there, it was an intense race. We didn’t crack. No mistakes and obviously really happy with that.
I was thinking that he’s going to give it all in front of his home crowd, and I was like, ‘sorry guys, but it’s also my day.’ I had to stick my neck out. I’m super happy. Thank you for the great energy and support here, every year.”
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