Nico Hulkenberg delivered to Sauber a remarkable fifth-place finish in last weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix, giving the Swiss outfit its best result in F1 in three years.
Despite the achievement, Hulkenberg’s performance went largely unnoticed amidst the race’s frontrunning drama. The German driver’s result has brought Sauber level on points with Aston Martin in the Constructors’ standings, reinvigorating the team’s midfield fight.
After months of frustration, Hulkenberg described the performance as a rare but beautiful moment where “everything seemed to click.”
From Q1 Exit to Race Day Redemption
Hulkenberg’s weekend didn’t begin on a high note. He was eliminated in Q1 on Saturday – his fifth such exit this season – once again outpaced by rookie teammate Gabriel Bortoleto.
On a track like Barcelona, where overtaking is notoriously difficult, it appeared his Sunday would be an uphill battle. But that early exit turned out to be an unlikely blessing.
Starting 16th on the grid, Hulkenberg avoided chaos at Turn 1 and quickly climbed into contention.
“There was a car coming sliding across so both Gabi and I had to avoid Turn 2 and avoid some car, I'm not sure who it was,” the Hulk explained.
“Had a bit of fight with Fernando also, I think for one or two laps, but wrestled him down in the end. That was good.”
©Sauber
A smart early pit stop on Lap 9 positioned Hulkenberg perfectly for a bold three-stop strategy. He managed an extraordinary 36-lap middle stint on medium tyres, expertly conserving rubber while others around him faltered.
“It was a great race, just one of them races where everything seemed to click and work out,” he said. “Beautiful when it happens, doesn't happen that often, unfortunately, but today it did.
“Having all these new tyres, being out in Q1, actually was really useful and helpful today. From 16th to have the start in lap one that I had, it kind of immediately reset the race and then put us into the fight for a good result.”
Late-Race Heroics and the Ferrari Overtake
A late safety car – triggered by a mechanical failure on Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes – played perfectly into Sauber’s hands. While most drivers had exhausted their fresh-tyre options, Hulkenberg had a pristine set of softs left unused from his early qualifying exit.
And the F1 veteran made full use of them. He surged past Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar and then overtook Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari with just two laps remaining – an image that few would have predicted earlier this season.
©Sauber
“He only had a used soft left,” Hulkenberg explained. “That's what you see even though he's in a Ferrari with how important and how powerful the tyres are. He was just sliding around a lot and I had new boots which made all the difference.”
Originally classified sixth, Hulkenberg inherited fifth after Max Verstappen received a post-race penalty.
“Obviously the late safety car and then having another set of softs did the rest of it. So very happy and obviously we take that.
“But, you know, that's just if you bring updates and performance that works, you know, you can help yourself.”
Upgrades Deliver and Sauber Rejoins Midfield Fight
Barcelona last weekend marked the debut of a substantial upgrade package for Sauber – including a new front wing, floor, and engine cover – which Hulkenberg believes played a crucial role in their performance leap.
“To be honest I think it's more the updates,” he said, when asked about Sauber’s performance boost. “Maybe it's the technical TD, the flexi wing stuff that others paid more of a price than us because honestly, I feel for us it didn't change that much.
“I don't feel much different in high speed and to be honest high speed so far has been not our strongest point so I tend to believe it is the update.”
©Sauber
The result was only Hulkenberg’s second points finish this season, the first coming with a seventh-place drive in a rain-hit race in Melbourne. It comes at a crucial time, as Sauber now finds itself back in the thick of the midfield battle.
“It's obviously a very sweet moment,” the 37-year-old acknowledged.
“Second time with points this year but only since Melbourne, it's obviously been a bit of a dry patch.
Read also: F1i Driver Ratings for the 2025 Spanish GP"It's been difficult but I believe it puts us more on the map in the midfield fight. We've found the connection to that train.
“In quali, things are very tight and everything needs to be right, but I feel like in the races hopefully we can be there and push into it and fight with all these other guys more.”
With fresh momentum and a car that finally seems capable of challenging beyond the back row, Hulkenberg’s performance in Spain could mark a turning point – not just for him, but for the entire Sauber team.
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Hulkenberg says ‘everything clicked’ in gritty run to P5 in Barcelona F1i.com.
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