Nico Hulkenberg Makes Big Claim About Sauber After Maiden F1 Podium Finish
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Sauber Formula One driver Nico Hulkenberg has made a significant claim about his team, stating that it is now a "serious competitor" in the midfield. The German driver made the admission after securing his first podium finish in F1 at the British Grand Prix.
Hulkenberg's P3 finish at Silverstone reportedly made bigger headlines than Lando Norris' race win at his home venue.
The last stage of the British GP saw Hulkenberg fend off seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton in his Ferrari in the fight for the third spot. Sauber, which is set to be taken over by Audi, is a classic example of what teams can do when the regulations remain consistent over multiple F1 seasons.
Hulkenberg has scored points in five races thus far, while his teammate Gabriel Bortoleto secured a points finish in Austria. This has elevated Sauber's position in the championship standings to P6, a stark contrast to its last position finish from last year.
Sauber is currently ahead of Alpine, Haas, Aston Martin, and Racing Bulls in the championship. Speaking on his Silverstone race finish, Hulkenberg acknowledged that the situation would have been different if the British GP had been a dry race. He said:
Nico Hulkenberg of Germany and Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber answers questions in the TV media pen during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Great Britain at Silverstone Circuit on July 5, 2025...
Nico Hulkenberg of Germany and Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber answers questions in the TV media pen during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Great Britain at Silverstone Circuit on July 5, 2025 in Northampton, United Kingdom. More"I think that's pretty good for starters today. If we had a dry race, it would have been a very different day and outcome for us."
The 37-year-old driver admitted that the team made significant improvements after the Spanish Grand Prix. He added:
"Whilst we've made some really good improvements since Barcelona, today [at Silverstone] is obviously circumstantial, and the conditions made this race and this result possible.
"But I feel in the midfield fight we've definitely gained some momentum, and we are a serious competitor there. That's where our fight is, but it's always about maximising every race, every weekend, and just trying to do well."
Newsweek Sports reported Hulkenberg's comments on his podium finish. He said:
"I always knew, you know, we have it in us, I have it in me somewhere.
"I mean, what a race, coming from virtually last, doing it all over again from last weekend. 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 just were really on it, the right course, the right tyres, in the right moment, made no mistakes. And, yeah, quite incredible."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
21 minutes ago
- New York Times
Volkswagen Hit Hard by Trump's Tariffs
Volkswagen's profit dropped by a third in the first half of the year, the German auto giant said on Friday, dragged down by the tough market for electric cars and President Trump's tariffs. The carmaker was the latest in Europe to report a dent in earnings because of the 25 percent additional tariff imposed by Mr. Trump on cars imported to the United States, following Stellantis and Volvo Cars. Volkswagen said that tariffs cost it 1.3 billion euros ($1.5 billion) in the first six months of the year, leading to a 33 percent decline in operating profit, to €6.7 billion. The company's revenue was roughly the same as the previous year. One bright spot was an increase in the number of cars delivered in Europe, where Volkswagen has overtaken Tesla as the market leader in electric vehicles. Arno Antlitz, Volkswagen's chief financial officer, said it was a 'mixed picture,' citing the contrast between the resonance among car buyers for its newest models and the general challenges that are electric cars are facing, along with the drag of tariffs. European carmakers have been squeezed since Mr. Trump imposed steep tariffs on imported vehicles. Automakers rely on global supply chains, making them vulnerable to increased import taxes. A 50 percent U.S. tariff on steel and aluminum — essential materials for car production — added further strain. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
News24
21 minutes ago
- News24
Volkswagen takes R27bn global hit from Trump tariffs
For more financial news, go to the News24 Business front page. German auto giant Volkswagen said Friday that tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump had cost it 1.3 billion (R27 billion) euros in the first half of the year as it reported falling profit. Overall net profit fell 38.5 percent year-on-year during the period to hit 7.28 billion euros (R150 billion). Higher-sales of lower-margin electric vehicles (EVs) as well as restructuring costs hit the result in addition to the tariffs, Volkswagen said. Finance chief Arno Antlitz said Volkswagen was nevertheless "on the right track" and that performance was at the "upper end of expectations", if tariffs and restructuring costs are excluded. The firm struck an unprecedented deal with unions last December to cut 35 000 jobs in Germany by 2030 as part of plans to save 15 billion euros a year. The 10-brand group also cut its revenue and profit outlook, warning of "political uncertainty and increased barriers to trade" for the remainder of the year. It now forecasts a profit margin for the year of between 4 and 5 percent, down from 5.5 to 6.5 percent previously, amounting to billions of euros for the firm. The range assumes that the United States will continue to levy tariffs of 10 percent on imported cars in the best case and stick to its current rate of 27.5 percent in the worst, Volkswagen said. Volkswagen's previous guidance, released in April shortly after new US tariffs took effect, did not take the increased duties into account. Sales by volume in North America fell 16 percent "mainly due to tariffs" in the first half even as they rose slightly worldwide, Volkswagen said. Trump in April slapped an additional 25-percent levy on imported cars as part of an aggressive trade policy he says will help boost US manufacturing. That has hit European carmakers. French group Stellantis - whose brands include Jeep, Citroen and Fiat - said on Monday that North American vehicle sales by volume plunged 25 percent in the second quarter of the year. US and European Union diplomats are currently negotiating ahead of the latest deadline set by Trump, with Trump threatening a blanket duty of 30 percent after August 1 if no agreement is reached.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Volkswagen lowers guidance as tariffs hit profit in second quarter
BERLIN (Reuters) -Volkswagen on Friday gave its first assessment of how U.S. President Donald Trump's trade war with Europe is expected to impact its 2025 earnings after tariffs dealt a blow to the German auto giant's operating profit in the second quarter. Europe's biggest carmaker now expects an operating return on sales in the range of 4-5%, compared with a previously forecast 5.5-6.5% range, the company said, giving its long awaited assessment of the impact of tariffs on its business. Full-year sales are now expected to be level with the previous year. The company had previously forecast a rise of up to 5%. Caught in the crosshairs of Trump's trade salvo on Europe, Volkswagen and its peers are pressing European trade negotiators to strike a deal to replace a 25% tariff on their cars in place since April. On Friday, Volkswagen reported an operating profit of 3.8 billion euros ($4.46 billion) in the quarter ended June 30, down 29% on the previous year. ($1 = 0.8518 euros) Sign in to access your portfolio
