Radio messages reveal how Hülkenberg overruled team on way to sensational British GP podium

F1

Nico Hülkenberg's first F1 podium followed a faultless British GP drive where he went against his team with strategy calls that proved crucial in wet weather at Silverstone. Here are the radio messages that show how he pulled it off

Sauber celebrates at the British GP

After 239 stars, Hulkenberg was finally able to stand on the F1 podium

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Nico Hülkenberg‘s drive from 19th on the grid to his first-ever Formula 1 podium at the British Grand Prix was a masterclass in perseverance, strategy, and flawless execution — led from the cockpit by the experienced racer, who overruled his team as he made strategic calls on instinct and experience,

After 239 race starts without a podium – a record in grand prix racing – Hülkenberg finally broke his drought in dramatic style at Silverstone, delivering a memorable performance for Sauber that got him a popular top-three finish that was celebrated by almost the entire paddock.

Even Hülkenberg himself was at a loss to explain how he had pulled off the feat in a race where intermittent rain brought uncertainty and required knife-edge strategic calls.

“I don’t think I can comprehend what we’ve just done. Oh my God,” the 37-year-old said on the radio after the chequered flag.

However, radio messages between Hülkenberg and his team reveal how the driver took control and dictated how he would run the race. Here’s how he did it.

 

The start

Any hopes of a points finish, let alone a podium result, took a hit on Saturday when Sauber struggled to maintain its recent strong form, with Hülkenberg qualifying down in 19th.

The German driver admitted that Silverstone and the rain had affected the car’s performance more than some of its rivals, and so a competitive race was looking unlikely from the bottom of the grid.

The race began in mixed, wet-to-dry conditions, which immediately opened the door for strategic gambles. Some drivers immediately pitted for slicks, but Hülkenberg was confident that starting the race on intermediate tyres was the right call.

Formation lap

Pits: Some competitors saying it’s ready for slicks.

NH: It’s really close… T13 is very wet still. Slicks is too aggressive.

Pits: 6 cars have stopped for dries, including Gabby [Bortoleto].

NH: yeah.

 

Starting grid for the 2025 F1 British Grand Prix

Gaps on the grid as some drivers pit for slicks before the start of the British GP

Steven Tee/LAT via Red Bull

From 19th on the grid, Hülkenberg gained several places at the start, thanks to the drivers who pitted before the lights went out, and then gained more as right at the start as Esteban Ocon and Liam Lawson clashed on on lap 1.

This triggered a virtual safety car (VSC) period, which the team was keen to capitalise on — calling Hülkenberg in when he’d lose less time to the rest of the field. However, he ignored the call, having told his pitwall that the final corners were too wet for slicks.

Lap 1

NH: Maybe not this lap but the next. Be ready. 15 is the biggest problem. 16 as well.

Pits: VSC

Lap 2

Pits: Box this lap, for mediums.

NH: Are you sure? No. I wouldn’t do that. Staying out.

 

Kimi Antonelli did stop for slicks and lost time as a result, benefitting Hülkenberg further, as he moved up to 10th by lap three. His decision to stay on intermediates was vindicated when Bortoleto crashed out, having changed to slicks at the start.

 

The first stop

Lance Stroll stopped for soft tyres on lap six but he showed that the track was ready for dry tyres by blasting past the Sauber on lap nine. However, by this point, rain was imminent and Hülkenberg, struggling with worn intermediates, was ready to come in when his his race engineer asked whether he wanted a new set — even though the team wasn’t preparing for an immediate stop.

NH: “Well yes, potentially. But it depends on the intensity.”

Pits: “About the same intensity of lap to the grid.”

Pits: “Stay out, stay out.”

NH: “No, these tyres are f**ked. I’m coming in.”

 

Hülkenberg was eighth when he made his stop, and overruling his team for a second time meant that he had a new set of intermediates ahead of everyone else on the grid bar Antonelli.

It proved crucial, as the rain hit almost immediately and most remaining cars dived into the pits, clearing the way for Sauber’s remaining driver.

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“We pitted from inters to inters,” explained Hülkenberg after the race. “Obviously, it was drying out. The inter was wearing down, the first set from the start, but the team said there’s some rain about. It actually changed within one or two laps from a pretty bright sky to dark clouds, and I was just dropping back.

“I was really struggling with that first set. They said the rain is coming, so I just dived into the pits, to be honest, without thinking too much at the time and then went out and the rain started. It was really good timing.”

The timing of the pitstop was perfect, and the decision to stay on inters paid off quickly. By lap 13, Hülkenberg had already climbed up to fifth position, at which time the race was neutralised by the safety car as visibility was terrible.

“All the stops we made today, they could not have been better. We pitted at the perfect time every single time, which is very rare and difficult to do,” Hülkenberg added. “But it’s just how it happened today, and we really hit that one on the head.”

Nico Hulkenberg passes Lance Stroll at the British GP

Hülkenberg chased Stroll for many laps before making his move

Grand Prix Photo

The second safety car period saw Max Verstappen spinning before the restart on lap 19, allowing Hülkenberg to gain yet another place, to fourth behind Lance Stroll. The Sauber driver then spent 13 laps chasing the Aston Martin and eventually made the pass for third place on lap 33.

“It just took a while to find a way through,” Hülkenberg said of his Stroll move. “But I wasn’t even really thinking about the podium there. I was just about keeping it going and making no mistakes.”

The track continued to dry and now Hülkenberg’s threat came in the form of a Ferrari, as Lewis Hamilton charged towards the front. At that point, it looked inevitable that the Briton would pass the Sauber and take away the podium position, as the gap kept shrinking.

 

The second stop

Then it was time for the entire field to move back to slicks, and again Hülkenberg nailed the timing of his pitstop, once again leading the strategy with patience.

Lap 38/39

Pits: Alonso stopped. Everyone else has stayed out.

NH: It’s not ready. Let me know how he gets on.

NH: Which compound do you think?

Pits: Alonso went mediums, Russell hards.

NH: I think medium will be fine for these few laps [to the end].

Lap 40

Pits: Alonso still slower [than us] everywhere.

 

Ferrari pitted Hamilton on lap 41, but the Briton went straight off the track as he rejoined, giving Hülkenberg some extra breathing space.

Lap 42

Pits: Alonso [on slicks] starting to be faster in S3 and Turns 1-2. On this lap.”

NH: Yep. I think the time is now. But monitor it [the rain].

Pits: We’re on it.

NH: Hamilton’s just pitted right?

Pits: Yes, and the 2 cars behind him [Verstappen and Sainz + Stroll]. We’re pitting end of this lap.

NH: Let me know how they are getting on on their out laps.

Pits: Hamilton and Stroll have put softs on and are slightly slower in S1 as they have warm up.

NH: Ok, no problem. Coming in.

 

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Hülkenberg returned to the track with a healthy lead over Hamilton had been two seconds behind before the pitstops, but now lagged by 10 seconds, even with Sauber having a slow stop (4.6sec).

That left Hülkenberg with nine laps to go to defend his position, and so he did, Hamilton only managing to cut the gap in half by the time the chequered flag was waved.

“I think we made a really good call by stopping one lap later than he did for the slicks, and we gained I think around 10 seconds,” said Hülkenberg. “That gap was crucial.

“From there onwards, it felt like a pretty long 10, 11, 12 laps, whatever it was. But from there onwards, I knew we had every chance to get this result. We just needed to keep it on the road while pushing.”

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