Latest news with #NicoHülkenberg


UAE Moments
3 hours ago
- Automotive
- UAE Moments
Nico Hulkenberg Secures First Podium at the British GP 2025
At the 2025 British Grand Prix on July 6, Nico Hülkenberg ended a staggering 239-race stint without a podium by finishing third, his first-ever top-three result in Formula 1. Starting 19th on the grid for Sauber, Hülkenberg executed a flawless race under changing weather and strategic pit stops to move through the field. Sauber recently introduced an upgrade package, which helped improve Hülkenberg's performance, especially in Sunday's race. "It feels good. It's been a long time coming, hasn't it? But I always knew we had it in us, I have it in me, somewhere," Hülkenberg said. This was not only Hülkenberg's first podium but also Sauber's first since 2012, marking a pivotal moment ahead of its transformation into Audi's works team. the driver's first win leaves Sauber sixth in the rankings for the Constructors'. Fellow drivers congratulated the driver including four-time champion Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton, and Carlos Sainz Jr. McLaren's Lando Norris won the race, while his teammate Oscar Piastri finished second in the race. This article was previously published on saudimoments. To see the original article, click here
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Drivers praise Hülkenberg for maiden Formula One podium
German Formula 1 driver Nico Huelkenberg of Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber celebrates finishing third after the British Grand Prix at Silverstone Circuit. Bradley Collyer/PA Wire/dpa Fifteen years after his Formula One debut, Nico Hülkenberg finally scored his maiden podium at his 239th race. The Kick Sauber driver ended his podium drought with the help of a clever team strategy at the British Grand Prix on Sunday. Advertisement But achievement was even more impressive because he started 19th on the grid and had to fight hard to hold-off nine-time Silverstone winner Lewis Hamilton. Team-mate Gabriel Bortoleto led the rounds of deserved praise saying: "Seeing him fight for the podium and achieve this result after so many years in F1 means a lot. He is the best team-mate I have ever worked with – both as a driver and as a person – and he absolutely deserves this moment." Four-time defending champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull greeted Hülkenberg during the cool-down lap and was swift to go over to him in parc feme to shake hands. "The race wasn't that enjoyable for me but it was nice to see Nico get his first podium and I'm sure he will be celebrating tonight," said Verstappen, who could only manage a fifth place after spinning on track and dropping to 10th. Advertisement Williams' Carlos Sainz, a former team-mate of Hülkenberg at Renault in 2018, said that the German has always been a top-five driver in the grid." "Honestly, for me, the fact that people kept cursing him, the fact that he didn't have any podiums, for me it was completely irrelevant. His level of talent and race execution is incredible," he added. Hamilton, who chased Hülkenberg in his Ferrari in the closing stages of the race, was disappointed, but happy for the Kick Sauber driver. "Third place felt within reach at times but credit to Nico on his first podium, he drove a strong race. It's a great achievement for him and his team." The Mercedes team gifted Sauber several bottles of champagne to aid in the celebrations, while Aston Martin reportedly also made a contribution.


Hindustan Times
10 hours ago
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
Sauber's success is an F1 anomaly as teams switch focus to 2026
SILVERSTONE, England — Sauber celebrated a rare podium finish with Champagne donated by its Formula 1 rivals. After all, this wasn't meant to be its year. Sauber's success is an F1 anomaly as teams switch focus to 2026 Mercedes sent over a staffer to Sauber bearing bottles of Champagne and a message of congratulations after Nico Hülkenberg's surprise third place at the British Grand Prix on Sunday. It was his first podium as a driver and the team's best finish in 13 years. Sauber personnel jumped and sang as the sparkling wine was sprayed around the team's hospitality site. Not bad for a 'building year,' as Hülkenberg put it in February. Sauber was one of the teams eyeing 2026 opportunities before 2025 even began. The biggest rule change in a generation brings smaller cars with movable front and rear wings and more electrical power. Teams who have been also-rans in 2025 have the chance to make a big step forward. At the halfway point of the 2025 season, Aston Martin, Williams and Sauber — to be rebranded Audi next year — all have ambitious plans for 2026. Development work at Aston Martin's brand-new wind tunnel across the road from the Silverstone circuit is 99% focused on next year's car, team principal Andy Cowell said Friday. It's the first Aston Martin overseen by design great Adrian Newey, who's created title-winning cars for Williams, McLaren and Red Bull over nearly 40 years in F1 and is the star signing of the team's new era. 'He pushes the boundaries," Cowell said. 'He packages 10 things into the space where only one would normally fit.' It's been a quiet 2025 on track. Aston Martin had its first double points finish of the season Sunday, with Lance Stroll seventh and Fernando Alonso ninth. At Williams, driver Alex Albon was testing out 2026 ideas in the simulator before the 2025 season began. The team has invested heavily in behind-the-scenes reforms to recapture its glory days as a serial title-winner in the 1980s and 1990s. Turning Sauber into the Audi works team brings a new level of expectation, while General Motors joins F1 in 2026 with its Cadillac brand. Top teams in particular face a tricky question to judge when to stop developing this year's car and go all-in on 2026. Red Bull was the big winner from the last major changes in 2022 as Max Verstappen won four straight titles. There's big change this time without Newey and with a new engine partnership between its Red Bull Powertrains unit and Ford. Verstappen's future is unclear amid speculation he could leave for Mercedes. It would be a 'disaster' for Red Bull to lose him, McLaren boss Zak Brown told the Associated Press on Saturday. 'Sport goes in cycles," Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said last week. 'We've had two incredibly successful cycles in Formula 1, and what we want to do is build towards the next cycle.' "Of course we want that to be with Max but we understand the pressure that there is next year, with us coming in as a new power unit manufacturer.' The last time the rules changed, McLaren showed it's possible to start a new F1 era slowly but evolve into a title contender. It took over two years until the breakthrough win, though. auto racing: /hub/auto-racing This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.


San Francisco Chronicle
10 hours ago
- Automotive
- San Francisco Chronicle
Sauber's success is an F1 anomaly as teams switch focus to 2026
SILVERSTONE, England (AP) — Sauber celebrated a rare podium finish with Champagne donated by its Formula 1 rivals. After all, this wasn't meant to be its year. Mercedes sent over a staffer to Sauber bearing bottles of Champagne and a message of congratulations after Nico Hülkenberg's surprise third place at the British Grand Prix on Sunday. It was his first podium as a driver and the team's best finish in 13 years. Sauber personnel jumped and sang as the sparkling wine was sprayed around the team's hospitality site. Not bad for a 'building year,' as Hülkenberg put it in February. Sauber was one of the teams eyeing 2026 opportunities before 2025 even began. The biggest rule change in a generation brings smaller cars with movable front and rear wings and more electrical power. Teams who have been also-rans in 2025 have the chance to make a big step forward. The teams eyeing a leap forward At the halfway point of the 2025 season, Aston Martin, Williams and Sauber — to be rebranded Audi next year — all have ambitious plans for 2026. Development work at Aston Martin's brand-new wind tunnel across the road from the Silverstone circuit is 99% focused on next year's car, team principal Andy Cowell said Friday. It's the first Aston Martin overseen by design great Adrian Newey, who's created title-winning cars for Williams, McLaren and Red Bull over nearly 40 years in F1 and is the star signing of the team's new era. 'He pushes the boundaries," Cowell said. 'He packages 10 things into the space where only one would normally fit.' It's been a quiet 2025 on track. Aston Martin had its first double points finish of the season Sunday, with Lance Stroll seventh and Fernando Alonso ninth. At Williams, driver Alex Albon was testing out 2026 ideas in the simulator before the 2025 season began. The team has invested heavily in behind-the-scenes reforms to recapture its glory days as a serial title-winner in the 1980s and 1990s. Turning Sauber into the Audi works team brings a new level of expectation, while General Motors joins F1 in 2026 with its Cadillac brand. Front-runners have more to lose Top teams in particular face a tricky question to judge when to stop developing this year's car and go all-in on 2026. Red Bull was the big winner from the last major changes in 2022 as Max Verstappen won four straight titles. There's big change this time without Newey and with a new engine partnership between its Red Bull Powertrains unit and Ford. Verstappen's future is unclear amid speculation he could leave for Mercedes. It would be a 'disaster' for Red Bull to lose him, McLaren boss Zak Brown told the Associated Press on Saturday. 'Sport goes in cycles," Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said last week. 'We've had two incredibly successful cycles in Formula 1, and what we want to do is build towards the next cycle.' "Of course we want that to be with Max but we understand the pressure that there is next year, with us coming in as a new power unit manufacturer.' The last time the rules changed, McLaren showed it's possible to start a new F1 era slowly but evolve into a title contender. It took over two years until the breakthrough win, though. ___


Winnipeg Free Press
11 hours ago
- Automotive
- Winnipeg Free Press
Sauber's success is an F1 anomaly as teams switch focus to 2026
SILVERSTONE, England (AP) — Sauber celebrated a rare podium finish with Champagne donated by its Formula 1 rivals. After all, this wasn't meant to be its year. Mercedes sent over a staffer to Sauber bearing bottles of Champagne and a message of congratulations after Nico Hülkenberg's surprise third place at the British Grand Prix on Sunday. It was his first podium as a driver and the team's best finish in 13 years. Sauber personnel jumped and sang as the sparkling wine was sprayed around the team's hospitality site. Not bad for a 'building year,' as Hülkenberg put it in February. Sauber was one of the teams eyeing 2026 opportunities before 2025 even began. The biggest rule change in a generation brings smaller cars with movable front and rear wings and more electrical power. Teams who have been also-rans in 2025 have the chance to make a big step forward. The teams eyeing a leap forward At the halfway point of the 2025 season, Aston Martin, Williams and Sauber — to be rebranded Audi next year — all have ambitious plans for 2026. Development work at Aston Martin's brand-new wind tunnel across the road from the Silverstone circuit is 99% focused on next year's car, team principal Andy Cowell said Friday. It's the first Aston Martin overseen by design great Adrian Newey, who's created title-winning cars for Williams, McLaren and Red Bull over nearly 40 years in F1 and is the star signing of the team's new era. 'He pushes the boundaries,' Cowell said. 'He packages 10 things into the space where only one would normally fit.' It's been a quiet 2025 on track. Aston Martin had its first double points finish of the season Sunday, with Lance Stroll seventh and Fernando Alonso ninth. At Williams, driver Alex Albon was testing out 2026 ideas in the simulator before the 2025 season began. The team has invested heavily in behind-the-scenes reforms to recapture its glory days as a serial title-winner in the 1980s and 1990s. Turning Sauber into the Audi works team brings a new level of expectation, while General Motors joins F1 in 2026 with its Cadillac brand. Front-runners have more to lose Top teams in particular face a tricky question to judge when to stop developing this year's car and go all-in on 2026. Red Bull was the big winner from the last major changes in 2022 as Max Verstappen won four straight titles. There's big change this time without Newey and with a new engine partnership between its Red Bull Powertrains unit and Ford. Verstappen's future is unclear amid speculation he could leave for Mercedes. It would be a 'disaster' for Red Bull to lose him, McLaren boss Zak Brown told the Associated Press on Saturday. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. 'Sport goes in cycles,' Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said last week. 'We've had two incredibly successful cycles in Formula 1, and what we want to do is build towards the next cycle.' 'Of course we want that to be with Max but we understand the pressure that there is next year, with us coming in as a new power unit manufacturer.' The last time the rules changed, McLaren showed it's possible to start a new F1 era slowly but evolve into a title contender. It took over two years until the breakthrough win, though. ___ AP auto racing: