Why your complete F1 pack is praising Hulkenberg’s maiden podium

The Formulation 1 pack hailed Nico Hulkenberg for silencing his doubters by lastly touchdown his first podium after 238 earlier race begins.

A landmark third place on the British Grand Prix actually didn't appear on the playing cards with Hulkenberg beginning nineteenth for Sauber following a poor qualifying session – however a superb technique with well timed tyre calls noticed the German lastly take a spot on an F1 podium.

In such a aggressive sequence, it's uncommon that your complete paddock is happy for a rival, however with the Sauber workforce cracking the beers and popping the champagne, Hulkenberg's contemporaries have been fast to reward his efforts.

Carlos Sainz, now with Williams however Hulkenberg's team-mate at Renault in 2018, mentioned he at all times knew the 37-year-old was adequate for F1 – even when his lack of podiums had led different to query it.

“Congrats. He will need to have completed a really strong race to be up there in P3,” he mentioned.

“Truthfully, for me the truth that individuals stored cursing him, the truth that he did not have any podiums, for me it was fully irrelevant. For me he is at all times been a top-five driver within the grid each time he is been in F1. His degree of expertise and race execution is unbelievable.

“I used to be his team-mate on the time. And the truth that he did not have a podium was simply circumstantial. So I am glad he has his podium now to close up everybody that doubted him. For me, I by no means doubted him. And I knew he was sooner or later going to be on the rostrum.”

Whereas they by no means raced in the identical workforce, two-time F1 world champion Fernando Alonso has competed towards Hulkenberg for years and was equally happy to see the previous Williams, Power India and Haas racer declare a top-three end.

“I began P7, completed P9. Nico began P19, completed P3. So I believe if you happen to get it proper, we all know in these combined circumstances how good the consequence could possibly be,” mentioned Alonso.

“I imply it is the primary podium I believe for him, so tremendous pleased for him. Among the finest drivers on the grid that by no means had the chance to have a correct automotive beneath. I am very, very actually pleased for him, so I hope he enjoys right this moment.”

Max Verstappen additionally singled out Hulkenberg's achievement regardless of his personal disappointing afternoon at Silverstone.

“Yeah, improbable. I am actually pleased for him,” Verstappen mentioned, having began on pole however completed fifth after a mid-race spin. “Yeah, it was very good to see. As a result of while you in F1 for such a very long time and you haven't been on the rostrum, and being so shut a number of occasions, I believe that is fairly particular for him.

“I believe for Nico, I believe he is fairly relaxed in that sense. He is aware of what he can do. He has proven that previously, earlier than Formulation 1 and in Formulation 1, however for no matter motive it did not work out up till now.

“He'll take it and he might be very pleased. However I believe he is aware of how good he's. The rostrum doesn't all of a sudden say that you're a lot higher. It is simply very nice for him to a minimum of be on an F1 podium.”