‘It’s been a long time coming’ – Hulkenberg revels in ‘incredible’ maiden F1 podium finish

After 239 starts, Nico Hulkenberg finally stood on the podium as an F1 driver at the end of a dramatic, rain-hit British Grand Prix – the German describing it as a “pretty surreal” achievement.

Hulkenberg arrived on the F1 grid back in 2010, with his best result up to Sunday’s race – which marked his 239th start – being a fourth-place finish on three occasions.

But the 37-year-old changed that statistic with a supreme rise from 19th in tricky, changeable conditions at Silverstone, following the McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri home via a spirited defence against Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton.

“It’s been a long time coming, hasn’t it?” Hulkenberg beamed afterwards. “I always knew we have it in us, and I have it in me somewhere.

“I mean what a race, coming from virtually last, and doing it all over again from last weekend, was 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 just really on it – the right calls, the right tyres in the right moment. We made no mistakes and it’s quite incredible.”

After several close podium misses in the past, Hulkenberg continued: “Today, I think I was in denial until the last pit stop, then when I heard we had gapped Lewis quite a bit with the one extra lap I was like, ‘Okay, this is good! This is some breathing space!’

“But then he was catching quite quickly. The pressure was there, it was an intense race, but we didn’t crack. No mistakes and obviously really, really happy with that.

“Obviously I was thinking that Lewis is going to give it all in front of his home crowd and I was like, ‘Sorry guys – it’s also my day!’ I’ve got to stick my neck out.”

Hulkenberg’s fourth successive top-10 finish moves Sauber up to sixth in the Teams’ Championship standings on 41 points, five clear of rivals Racing Bulls and Aston Martin.