Grand Prix in Silverstone: Hülkenberg in the rain luck: For the first time on the Formula 1 podium

In the rain chaos of Silverstone, Nico Hülkenberg ended his black record series with the first podium square of his long Formula 1 career. The 37-year-old had waited in vain to the podium in the motorsport king class 238 Grand Prix before the bitter time ended in a typical British summer day.

In the kick-Sauber, the Rhinelander drove from the penultimate starting point to third place with a masterpiece and was allowed to go to the award ceremony with home winner Lando Norris and World Cup leader Oscar Piatri. In the cockpit, Hülkenberg shed the first tears with luck.

In an eventful race, the McLaren duo also expanded the lead over world champion Max Verstappen in the overall ranking. The red bull superstar made a serious slip after violent showers and several safety car phases.

Verstappen continues to lose overall

Provoked by a dangerous braking maneuver of the long leading Piatri, who received a time penalty, turned Verstappen and was only fifth. In the World Cup, as the third, he is already 69 points behind Piatri and 61 points behind Norris.

But man of the day was Hülkenberg. With all his routine and perfect strategy, he survived the wild and was able to cheer completely unexpectedly in the end. 15 years after his debut at Williams and in late autumn of a moving career, Hülkenberg rewarded himself for his perseverance. Silverstone record winner Lewis Hamilton also stopped by in Ferrari and finished fourth in the end.

Hours of rain before the start

Heavy rain had put the 160,000 fans to the test in the hours before the start. Record champion Hamilton, who had already won nine times in Silverstone, pleased the conditions. “I love it that it is raining, that’s British weather,” said the 40-year-old before moving to Ferrari before moving home. “I’ve never seen so many British in red,” said Hamilton after a look at the ranks.

His joy over the moisture fed from the little disappointment in qualifying when Hamilton had only been fifth for a small braking. Like some drivers from the back rows, the seven -time champion hoped for weather chaos – and was heard.

Vettel-Besten hires

World champion Verstappen had secured the starting place at the forefront with a round of my fable. Briefly forgotten was his anger about the difficult to drive and the annoying speculation about a possible switch to Mercedes. With its 44th pole position, the Dutch also stopped Sebastian Vettel’s team pest.

On the wet asphalt, Verstappen defended the top through the first curves against Piatri in the McLaren. The race line had to brake the field twice in the first rounds through a virtual safety car.

First Liam Lawson had to park his demolished car on the edge of the Racing Bulls after Esteban Ocon caught with his Haas. A little later, Sauber-Pilot Gabriel Bortoleto crashed into the route limitation, parts of his rear wing whirled through the air.

When the race was free again, Piatri continued his hunt for Verstappen and squeezed over in round eight. Then rain started again, the safety car calmed down the action briefly.

As soon as it was off the slopes, it crashed again. Lawson’s teammate Isack Hadjar thundered with his car into the rear of the Mercedes by Kimi Antonelli and flew off the track. Again Bernd Mayländer was challenged with his safety car. 75 years after her very first race, Formula 1 performed a real spectacle at her birthplace in Silverstone.

Controversy behind the safety car

The next time it is started, it became controversial. Piatri accelerated, then suddenly slowed down again until almost standing and surprised. The Red Bull driver rushed over briefly, although it was actually not yet allowed and sweared over the Australian. Immediately afterwards turned away, lost many places.

The racing commissioners immediately intervened and imposed a ten-second penalty against Piatri for his dangerous maneuver behind the safety car. Verstappen, however, helped little than tenths now threatened the next setback in the title fight. Because Red Bull hadn’t expected so much rain, the car of the four-time champion was not well coordinated and prevented a quick chase.

The two McLaren rushed at the front. When Piatri scuffed his punishment on the box, Norris passed and could not be catched up. Despite a moderate last change of tire, Hülkenberg kept his nerves behind it and did not miss the podium.