Hülkenberg Breaks Record: First Podium in F1 After 239 Races

Hülkenberg Breaks the Curse: A Podium Expected for Years

Silverstone, England – “The time has come, the man has arrived.” Nico Hülkenberg, after years of waiting, finally tasted glory. The German driver conquered his first podium in Formula 1, putting an end to one of the most unfair and infamous records in the sport. Jonathan Wheatley, head of Sauber, summed up the emotion of the moment. Team members, soaked in champagne, chanted “Nico’s on fire” as the celebration spread throughout the garage. The Swiss team, transitioning to Audi for 2026, hadn’t been on the podium since the 2012 Japanese Grand Prix. Their last top-three finish was a long time ago, and last year they finished last in the constructors’ championship without scoring a single point. For Hülkenberg, the wait seemed endless. His first podium came in his 239th attempt, 15 years after his debut at the 2010 Bahrain Grand Prix. The man who held the record for the most races without a podium finally saw his legacy transformed into a memorable afternoon where the team and the driver came together perfectly to achieve an unexpected result.

“It took a long time to arrive, didn’t it?” said a stunned Hülkenberg after the race. “But I always knew we had it in us, I have it in me, somewhere.”

Nico Hülkenberg

Hülkenberg’s lack of podium finishes, with several missed opportunities such as in Brazil 2012 or Germany 2019, had been a constant criticism. However, Wheatley, Hülkenberg’s boss since April, always believed in the driver’s talent.

“I find it incredible that we are celebrating a podium, as I feel he should have achieved them throughout his career,” said Wheatley. “It seems like the most anticipated podium in history. He showed his class today, he made no mistakes. I consider him an extraordinary talent for a long time, and I think I have been consistent in saying that to everyone here. It seemed incredible to me that he had never achieved a podium in his career. I think today he showed what he is capable of.”

Jonathan Wheatley

Hülkenberg had an outstanding performance at Silverstone, driving to perfection in difficult conditions.

Legend: Nico Hülkenberg finally climbed onto his first Formula 1 podium, freeing himself from the record of most races without a podium, which was 238. In Formula 1, the podium is the minimum for a renowned driver. Hülkenberg proved his worth, but victory had eluded him on several occasions. Hülkenberg, with over 200 races and 15 seasons, proved his worth. He even won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in his only attempt in 2015. In lower categories, such as karting, Hülkenberg competed with Sebastian Vettel, who later won four world championships. Upon his arrival in Formula 1, he was considered a promising talent. He dominated Formula BMW in 2005 and won the A1GP championship. In 2009, he was crowned GP2 champion.

“I felt good. I still remembered how to do it! I used to do it a lot in the lower categories and then I had to wait quite a while for it.”

Nico Hülkenberg

Max Verstappen, friend of Hülkenberg, celebrated his podium finish, acknowledging the long wait. Carlos Sainz, former teammate at Renault, highlighted his race execution.

“For me, he has always been a top five driver whenever he has been in F1,” said Carlos Sainz. “His race execution is incredible. I am glad he has this podium to silence everyone. I never doubted him.”

Carlos Sainz

Fernando Alonso also praised Hülkenberg, highlighting the lack of a competitive car in his career. Hülkenberg’s record, until now, was 292 races without a podium, a number that underlines the injustice of his wait. Setbacks were constant. After Williams, he raced for Force India, where he could have won in Brazil 2012 if it weren’t for a crash. The performances at Sauber in 2013 caught attention, but he was discarded for Ferrari. In 2014, he returned to Force India alongside Sergio Pérez, but the frustration continued.

Legend: Nico Hülkenberg conquered the difficult conditions of Silverstone on Sunday to finish third in the British Grand Prix. A move to Renault, with title ambitions, did not yield the expected results. In Germany 2019, in rainy conditions, Hülkenberg went off the track. “It hurts and it will hurt even more tomorrow,” he said after that race. Before this race, Hülkenberg had downplayed his record, comparing it to “a cup of cold coffee.” With Sauber’s good performance and the transition to Audi in 2026, the celebrations could be just the beginning for him.