Hülkenberg gives PODIUM to Sauber: Boost for future Audi in F1

Hülkenberg Achieves Historic Podium for Sauber at the British Grand Prix

Nico Hülkenberg’s podium finish at the British Grand Prix has injected optimism into the future of the Sauber team, which will become the official Audi team. This was stated by Jonathan Wheatley, team principal. Hülkenberg, 37 years old, finished third at Silverstone, achieving his first podium in 239 races. A milestone that many believed impossible for a driver who debuted in Formula One 15 years ago. The driver started from the last position in a chaotic race marked by rain, which made his success even more surprising.

“What I take from today is that people are starting to believe in us,” Wheatley commented to a large group of journalists after the race.

Jonathan Wheatley

Wheatley highlighted the team’s progress, mentioning the momentum they are gaining and the performance they are adding to the car. He also acknowledged the hard work of Mattia Binotto, director of operations, who has been key to the team’s advancement. Sauber, which finished in ninth position out of ten teams last year, with only four points, has undergone a remarkable transformation. The new management, led by Binotto and Wheatley, has managed to reverse the situation. The team has a new driver lineup: Hülkenberg and the Brazilian rookie Gabriel Bortoleto, Formula Two champion last year. Hülkenberg had already achieved a fifth place in Spain, pulling Sauber out of the bottom of the standings. In addition, he has scored points in the last four races, and the team is only 18 points behind Williams, which occupies fifth position. With 37 points in 12 races, Hülkenberg has surpassed the team’s total score in the previous two seasons. Wheatley preferred to be cautious when asked if Sauber was further ahead than expected in its future plan. “You can think of the plan as a straight line, but there are sharp curves, traffic lights and roadworks,” he pointed out. “It’s a great day for the team. Everyone is working very hard here. It was a mature performance in the race.”