Nico Hülkenberg finally has his Formula 1 “peace”. For the Grand Prix of Belgium (Saturday and Sunday, Live at RTL), the clean routine came with the first podium of his career. In an interview with RTL/NTV and Sport.de, the “Hulk” reveals how violently he celebrated his Silverstone Coup – and why there was even a day “to copy”.
Nico Hülkenberg’s podium curse has finally been history since the Silverstone race of the 2025 Formula 1 season. With a driver and strategic masterpiece, the 37-year-old raced to a sensational third place in the Home of British Motor Racing.
The jubilation no longer knew – Hülkenberg and his clean team celebrated the unexpected success like a championship. There was no one in the paddock that would somehow grab the Stocker premiere to the German.
“There were really over 700 messages that were on my phone on Tuesday or Wednesday,” said Hülkenberg in front of the Grand Prix of Belgium in Spa (Sprint and race live at RTL) In an interview with RTL/NTV and sport.de. His former F1 colleague Adrian Sutil, who now held the unloved record for most Grand Prix stars without a podium-also reported.
Mercedes and other teams had already sent champagne to the unprepared Swiss crew in Silverstone – this opened a party several days for Hülkenberg, as he revealed.
“The week after Silverstone was already idle,” Hülkenberg admitted in a good mood. But even on Friday afterwards there was another “ignition”.
Hülkenberg mixed “one or the other short”
In Silverstone, Hülkenberg and his team had celebrated until late in the evening. “I’ve never been on the track for so long and it was really nice,” said the clean pilot. In the end, only he and his team members were really in the paddock.
“My boys and I made sure that the refrigerators remain empty, that you don’t have to pack away. It was nice and funny,” said the ‘party beast’.
On Monday we went to the official team party in the Sauber-Fabrik in Hinwil, “to somehow celebrate it there and to share it with everyone there to say thank you,” said Hülkenberg.
Video: Steiner sings Loblied on ex-protégé Hülkenberg
Because of a storm in Zurich, he was only at home with his family in Monte Carlo at 11 p.m. – where the party continued directly.
“My wife organized a little surprise party for me, with many friends and neighbors, confidants from Monaco. It was nice, then continued to Tuesday morning. I mixed one or two short ones, which was not the best idea. Tuesday was already” a bit of “copying”.
Hülkenberg sees “upward trend” at Sauber/Audi
The success of Silverstone gives Sauber a “push and a momentum” and “is also very positive and important with a view to the next six to twelve months,” said Hülkenberg to the colleagues of “Sky”.
The clean racing team is in the middle of the upheaval, will start next year as an Audi work team with engines from Ingolstadt.
For the coming season, however, nothing could be bought through third place in England, Hülkenberg pointed out. “I think you have to say realistically and honestly that it would have been a completely different story in Silverstone if it had been dry,” he said. In qualifying, Sauber still “quite old”.
In general, the Swiss has been “there is definitely an upward trend since the upgrade in Barcelona,” said Hülkenberg.