Four-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen and other colleagues praise Nico Hülkenberg for his third-place finish at Silverstone
Everyone in the Formula 1 paddock is happy for Nico Hülkenberg’s first Grand Prix podium finish. That’s how it seems after the race at Silverstone, with many team bosses, fellow drivers, and former teammates speaking very positively about Hülkenberg and his performance, led by four-time world champion Max Verstappen.
Verstappen congratulated Hülkenberg from his car during the cool-down lap and rushed straight over to Hülkenberg after stopping in the parc ferme to congratulate him face to face.
“I’m really happy for him,” said Verstappen. “Yes, it was really nice to see. Because I think when you’ve been in Formula 1 for so long and never stood on the podium, even though you’ve been close a few times, then it’s something very special for him.”
In his opinion, however, Hülkenberg did not need the podium as a “seal of approval.” “He’s pretty relaxed about it, I think. He knows what he’s capable of. He’s shown that before Formula 1 and in Formula 1,” says Verstappen.
“For whatever reason, it just hadn’t worked out until now. Now, of course, he’s taking that with him and will be very happy. But I think he knows how good he is anyway. The podium doesn’t suddenly mean you’re much better. It’s just nice for him to be on a Formula 1 podium at least once.“
Alonso: Hülkenberg is ”one of the best”
Fernando Alonso agrees. The two-time world champion considers Hülkenberg “one of the best drivers in the field who never had the chance to drive a really good car,” according to Alonso. “I’m really happy for him, and I hope he enjoys it.”
Hülkenberg caused a stir during the race with his courageous performance. Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff, for example, said he was cheering Hülkenberg on even though he was “a little annoyed” by how his own drivers were doing in the race: “I was watching Nico’s lap times at the end, and that was impressive,” Wolff said. “No one doubts his driving skills.”
New momentum for Sauber and Hülkenberg
That’s why Hülkenberg is “definitely” the man of the race for former Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher, because he “unexpectedly drove from the back to the front” – and did so with a car “that supposedly wasn’t good at the start. But both things always have to come together,“ says Schumacher. On Sky, he added, ”Nico did a mega job, but so did the team.”
The Silverstone result should give the Sauber team new momentum after the good results of the past few weeks. “It means so much,” says Schumacher. “Everyone is happy and then happy to work an extra hour. And the bonus for the team is also great and important for every mechanic.”