Nico Hulkenberg's story as an underdog is precisely what Formula 1 required.

      Andrea Diodato

      Get The Drive’s daily newsletter

      The latest car news, reviews, and features.

      After fifteen years, 239 lights out, and 42 retirements, Nico Hulkenberg has finally claimed a podium finish in Formula 1.

      As rain poured down, turning the track slick and obscuring drivers' vision, the 37-year-old Kick Sauber driver managed to secure a third-place finish at the 2025 British Grand Prix on Sunday. While the final result is significant, the manner in which he achieved it holds equal weight.

      If someone had told Hulkenberg on Friday that he would be on the podium listening to “God Save the King” two days later, he likely would have chuckled. In the second free practice session, he finished 17th, and in the third, he was 15th. His team’s junior driver, Paul Aron, replaced him in FP1, which limited the No. 27 driver’s track time. Qualifying on Saturday didn't better his prospects; he remarked, “Quite frankly, we just didn’t have the pace to make it through.” By the time Sunday’s race began, he had qualified in 19th position, as Franco Colapinto's Alpine did not leave the pit lane.

      Yet, in a remarkable comeback amidst the downpour, the German driver managed to climb up the ranks.

      By the seventh lap—after several drivers swapped their starting tires for slicks on a drying track and a few rookies spun out—Hulkenberg had moved up to 10th place. This result alone would have marked a strong performance for him during the 2024 season. But he didn’t stop there. With rain continuing and the safety car deployed on lap 14, a bright flash of neon green was seen near the front in fifth place. Following Max Verstappen's spin on lap 21, Hulkenberg moved into fourth, and 14 laps later, he executed a clean maneuver to overtake Lance Stroll, securing third place. He successfully fended off Lewis Hamilton, who was striving for his 16th podium at Silverstone, and kept Verstappen behind him in fourth and fifth.

      Going into the 2025 British Grand Prix weekend, clear frontrunners emerged: a battle between Ferrari and McLaren, with a small chance of Mercedes joining in. Hamilton topped the first free practice session, his teammate Leclerc set the fastest time in FP3, and Lando Norris, who ultimately won the race, was fastest in FP2. Even as Verstappen's Red Bull showcased the potential for surprises with a stunning qualifying lap that put him on pole position, a top spot for Hulkenberg seemed unlikely.

      Although luck was a factor in Hulkenberg's race, it was his patience and a gritty racing spirit that ultimately paid off. This kind of performance, transforming from the back of the pack to the podium, serves as a refreshing reminder of why fans fell in love with racing. In a landscape dominated by teams with vast resources and talent pools, it can be easy to lose that sense of romance in the sport. However, at times, you find yourself captivated and asking, “How can you not be enchanted by 20 cars maneuvering in complex formations?”

      Sunday was one of those magical days. Despite the ongoing championship battle, this season so far hasn’t delivered many thrilling moments. Seeing a 37-year-old driver with a less competitive car lift a trophy is enough to provoke feelings of nostalgia—even if that trophy is crafted from Lego bricks.

      Though he entered the sport through a conventional path, Hulkenberg's career has been anything but ordinary: racing for eight different teams since 2010, clinching pole position in his debut season, and winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Porsche in 2015. Despite his impressive record as a talented racer, Hulkenberg holds some unfortunate distinctions, including having the second-most points without a victory and the most starts without a win. Nonetheless, he has demonstrated impressive speed this season, earning more points (31) than both Red Bull drivers (29) over the last four races.

      Hulkenberg created a moment akin to a scene from a movie that could appeal to fans who transitioned from film to Formula 1, highlighting the sport’s capacity for remarkable experiences. Waiting 15 years for such moments—or witnessing a wet recovery drive just once a season—only enhances their sweetness.

      Exhausted but smiling, Hulkenberg captured the day perfectly: “One of the best days of my career.”

      Got a tip? Email us at [email protected]