By our motoring correspondent
Nico Hülkenberg had an incredible race. He was the hero of the day—and in fact, a lot of people agreed. Voted top driver of the day, he earned a spectacular and well-deserved third on the podium. A brilliant and inspired performance by this exceptional driver.
Now, Nico’s been having a good year compared to 2024.
Last Sunday, the big achievers in the Formula 1 race in Austria (29 June 2025) were the Kicker Sauber team—Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hülkenberg. But at Silverstone, Bortoleto didn’t manage to repeat his performance of last week.
Hülkenberg, born in 1987, is a seasoned Formula 1 driver for Sauber, transitioning to Audi in 2026. A decorated junior series champion and the 2015 Le Mans winner, he debuted in F1 in 2010.
On July 6, 2025, Hülkenberg finally achieved his long-awaited maiden F1 podium, finishing third at the British Grand Prix for Sauber. Starting 19th, his smart tire strategy and dogged defensive driving helped secure Sauber’s first podium since 2012—breaking his own record of 239 races without a top-three finish.
In the 2025 season so far, Hülkenberg has scored 25 points, including a seventh in Australia, fifth in Spain, and eighth in Canada. That’s already equal to Sauber’s combined points from 2023 and 2024—proof of the impact he’s had this year, despite the team’s ongoing struggles. For context, in 2024 (with Haas) he scored 41 points, outshining his teammate and helping Haas secure seventh in the Constructors’ Championship. While his 2025 tally is lower due to Sauber’s weaker car, his podium and consistent outperformance show his growth and sheer talent.
Hats off also to Lewis Hamilton—what a superb race. A true world champion at Silverstone. He was right up there at the top.
The Aston Martin team did extremely well. Accolades go to Lance Stroll.
Another top performer was Pierre Gasly in the Williams—he really delivered.
He was followed by Alonso and Albon, both putting in solid performances.
Disappointments of the day? Max Verstappen. He’s been having car problems all season long in 2025. Let’s hope he gets a better package for 2026—he deserves it.
It was a tough day for Charles Leclerc, who struggled to make it up to midfield. And a real pity for George Russell, racing at home in the Mercedes-Benz. Sadly, he didn’t pass muster this time.
Also disappointing was the fact that five drivers didn’t finish, leaving a much smaller field. That’s the problem—when big money pours into certain teams (we won’t name names), the Formula 1 format suffers. It’s the same thing those people are doing with Manchester United. It’s a sad day when big money can ruin racing for millions of fans.
Still—well done to all the drivers mentioned. May they go on to have a fantastic race at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium on 27 July 2025.
