Sauber driver Nico Hulkenberg finally finished on stage for the first time in his long Formula 1 career and Max Verstappen was the first director to congratulate him on his performance
Max Verstappen showed his class by immediately congratulating Nico Hulkenberg on his first stage ever in Formula 1 .. Sauber driver Hulkenberg, 37, was never finished in the top three after 239 race starts in his long career.
But in the midst of the rain -driven chaos of Sunday’s British Grand Prix, the German ruled and took the trophy home for P3. What made Hulkenberg’s achievements even more remarkable was the fact that he had started the race in Silverstone in 19th position.
After he had driven past the checkered flag for a raw British crowd, who also celebrated the first victory of Lando Norris over his home circuit, Hulkenberg received a gesture from reigning world champion Verstappen. The Red Bull Driver received level with Hulkenberg and saw him give up a thumb before he pumped his first.
In an interview after the race with LitterThe 37-year-old revealed: “Max was the first man to come (to congratulate me). We (Max and I) go far back, you know, of karting days when we were teenagers.
“I think we have a lot of respect … I mean, I have a lot of respect for him, you know – what he does for what he stands for. A big person.”
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Verstappen also told reporters about Hulkenberg: “Yes, fantastic, I am really happy for him. Yes, it was very nice to see, because if you are in F1 for so long and you have not been on stage and are a few times so close, I think this is quite special for him.
“I think for Nico, I think he is quite relaxed in that sense. He knows what he can do. He has shown that in the past, before Formula 1 and in Formula 1, but for whatever reason has not come so far.
“He will take it and he will be very happy, but I think he knows how good he is. The stage does not suddenly say that you are much better. It’s just very nice for him to be at least on an F1 stage.”
Hulkenberg made his F1 debut with Williams in 2010, but a decade later he was without a seat. In 2023 Haas offered him the chance to return and he spent two years with the American team.
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Prior to this season, Hulkenberg joined Sauber, who will be Audi next year. His stage finish also means that Sauber has scored more points than Verstappen’s once dominant Red Bull (35 to 29) in the last four races.
“It was an emotional roller coaster this weekend, which was almost last [on Saturday]So a pretty bad day for one of the best days of my career – it’s clearly a lot to take, “Hulkenberg added.
“That race was intense, with all the changes in the circumstances, it was sketchy. A quick track with changeable circumstances is never easy. Although I am happy and brought again, I am usually tired and I look forward to coming home, to be honest.”
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