F1 Celebrates Hulkenberg’s Historic First Podium: The ‘Extraordinary’ Moment That Changed the Game

Nico Hulkenberg just achieved something special. He finished third at Silverstone, marking his first-ever Formula 1 podium. At nearly 38 years old, this moment is even more remarkable since he started from 19th on the grid.

Hulkenberg began his F1 journey in 2010. It seemed he might be done with racing after he lost his seat at the end of the 2019 season. However, after two years mostly off the track, he got a second chance with Haas in 2022. Since then, his performances have been impressive.

In recent races, he has been on the rise. Starting in Spain, he moved from P16 to finish fifth. In Canada, he climbed from P13 to eighth place. Even in Austria, he began in 20th and finished ninth. But his drive at Silverstone was a standout moment.

His teammates and rivals praised his achievement. Gabriel Bortoleto, his teammate, shared a heartfelt moment with him after the race. “Seeing him fight for the podium after all these years means a lot,” he said. “He definitely deserves this moment.”

Max Verstappen, another racer in the field, acknowledged Hulkenberg’s podium and expressed his happiness for him, even if his own race didn’t go as planned.

Oscar Piastri, who was also on the podium, shared in the celebration. “Well done to Nico — that’s the highlight of the day,” he remarked, indicating that while he was disappointed, seeing Hulkenberg’s joy made it feel a bit better.

Carlos Sainz, a former teammate of Hulkenberg, praised him too. “Congrats! He must have had a solid race to be up there in P3,” Sainz told reporters. He referred to Hulkenberg as a “top-five driver” in the grid, highlighting his talent and skills.

Even Lewis Hamilton, a racing legend, recognized Hulkenberg’s achievement. Although Hamilton missed out on extending his own podium streak, he praised Hulkenberg’s strong performance. “It’s a great achievement for him and his team,” Hamilton commented.

Hulkenberg’s win stirred conversations online, with fans celebrating his long-awaited moment and sharing their excitement on social media. Many expressed relief and joy that he finally got to stand on the podium.

In a light-hearted moment during the press conference, Hulkenberg joked about receiving his first trophy made of Lego. “I love Lego! My daughter can play with it too,” he laughed. “But a bit of silver or gold would have been nice as well!”

Hulkenberg’s journey from near obscurity to standing on the podium is a reminder of resilience. In the competitive world of Formula 1, where only the best thrive, his story resonates. It shows that with determination, dreams can come true—even if it takes time.



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