Nico Hülkenberg takes a surprise fifth place in Spain
Nico Hülkenberg hails Sauber's "big step forward" at the Spanish Grand Prix, enabling it to record its best race result since 2019, with 6th place at the finish turned into 5th after Max Verstappen's 10-second penalty.
For its last season under the name Sauber, before Audi’s arrival in 2026 with the new regulations, the team based in Switzerland struggled to score points consistently. Before this weekend, their only top 10 finish was in the first race of the season, where Nico Hülkenberg finished 7th.
A beautiful performance in the race
In Spain, the German was outpaced in qualifying by his young teammate Gabriel Bortoleto and was eliminated in Q1. He therefore had to start from 15th position on the grid, following the withdrawal of Lance Stroll due to injury.
But the situation changed during the race: thanks to an early pit stop and several overtakes, Nico Hülkenberg moved back into the points even before the safety car came out. A late overtake on Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari allowed him to cross the line in 6th position, before climbing to 5th place due to Max Verstappen’s penalty.
« Today, everything worked perfectly », he stated after the race. « Good start, excellent first lap, I gained a lot of positions — that was the foundation of my race. Then, honestly, the car was really good: good pace, good balance, a real harmony. The developments paid off, it was very enjoyable and great to see. »
« Before the Safety Car, I was 8th. And then, it shuffled the cards a bit. In the end, having been out since Q1 yesterday and having all new tires was the “golden ticket” in hindsight. Quite ironic, but it paid off today. »
Winning improvements
Sauber had introduced an important package of updates this weekend, which improved the car’s consistency and balance, giving both drivers the confidence necessary to deliver their best weekend of the season so far.
The overtaking by Nico Hülkenberg on a former World Champion was proof of this, but the German was keen to temper expectations regarding his team’s performance, noting that a significant gap remains with the best cars on the grid.
« Lewis, I think he was on worn soft tires, whereas I had everything new since I had gone out very early yesterday », he explained.
« That shows how the difference between new tires and worn tires can be huge. A single qualifying lap can really take a lot out of the tire’s life. It was obviously enjoyable, but I don’t think we’re at the level yet to fight with the “big guys”. »
« We have taken a big step, that’s for sure, but more to fight with the other mid-field teams », he concluded.
