Formula 1 in Silverstone: Lego Cup and Schampus: Hülkenberg party is also pleased

In the fray of the clean team quarters, the dripping wet Nico Hülkenberg took deep sips from the shampus powder. At home, daughtered Noemi Sky (3) cheered with pointed screams in front of the television. And in the Audi chiefs, the anticipation for the common Formula 1 project with the Swiss racing team to Hülkenberg’s overwhelming podium debut in Silverstone is likely to have grown. “It is good that we now have two weeks to celebrate it before we drive again,” said the 37-year-old.

Mechanics and guests of honor escalated around him, roaring “Nico is on Fire” again and again for the melody of the party cracker “Freeed From Desire”. After the rain spectacle, all brakes released that the Rhinelander was the third and 239 races in Formula 1 as third on a podium. In 2012, the Sauber crew used the Japanese Kamui Kobayashi to get its last podium.

Cup from Lego modules

“It is quite a bit to process this. I will need a few days,” said Hülkenberg when he finally finished the unloved record series of most Grand Prix without a top three rank. It was “the race of his life”, judged the Swiss “Tages-Anzeiger”.

The veteran bothered that there was no cup of gold or silver in Silverstone, but from Lego components. “I won’t complain. I love Lego. And my daughter can also play with it,” he said.

In a quiet moment on the edge of the Teaffarty, Hülkenberg was also praised by Mattia Binotto. The clean top manager heads the Formula 1 project for the future Audi work team and thanked the chief pilot for the mood boost. “It goes forward, we make progress, get points. People come to work with a smile,” said the Italian, who let his return flight whiz.

The future Audi works team feels the momentum

Team boss Jonathan Wheatley appeared for the improvised media questionnaire with a cigar and a grin. “People start to believe in us. We are building momentum,” said the 58-year-old, who has only been in office since April. Clean and Audi had recruited the British with the series world champion Red Bull, where he had recently monitored Max Verstappen’s title series as sports director Max Verstappen.

At halftime of last season before the large standard reform, Wheatley can present a good interim balance. In the past four races, Sauber has even collected more points than Red Bull, is now sixth in the design classification and could soon overtake Williams. “We still have a long journey by then where we have to be. This is a great springboard,” said Wheatley with a view of the coming time as an Audi work team from 2026.

Champagne delivery for “Hulk”

At the latest with Hülkenberg’s world-class trip from the last starting place onto the podium in Silverstone, Sauber can also be confirmed in the selection of the Emmericher as an advanced helper. Since the debut for Williams 2010, the son of a freight forwarder had measured Formula 1 as a migrant worker. He changed the employer eight times. Despite always reliable services, he never made it to one of the top teams and was already working as a TV expert in between.

Hülkenberg has long been wearing the nickname “Hulk” based on a comic figure, and he is quite popular in the paddock. Apparently everyone wanted to congratulate him in the hours of Silverstone. Mercedes and Aston Martin even delivered a few bottles of champagne for the celebrations, because nobody was apparently prepared for something like that.

Kumpel Verstappen also swallowed his frustration over fifth place and the chance that has already burst for title number five and was happy with Hülkenberg. At the run-round round, the Red Bull superstar stretched the jubilee fist towards the German. Then he also moved the departure of his private pilot in order to be able to take Hülkenberg back to the adopted home of Monaco as promised.