Hulkenberg wants to "celebrate it properly over the next week"
Having recorded his maiden Formula One podium finish at last Sunday's British Grand Prix, Sauber driver Nico Hulkenberg claims that he wants to "celebrate it properly over the next week."
The Mattia Binotto-led Sauber team celebrated a memorable result as Nico Hulkenberg finished third at last Sunday's British Grand Prix. It was a special moment for the German driver, who scored his first-ever Formula One podium at the 239th time of asking; and for the team as a whole, back on the podium for the first time since Kamui Kobayashi’s Suzuka heroics in 2012.
On a race defined by changing weather conditions and Silverstone Circuit’s slippery surface, Hulkenberg went from 19th on the grid to the rostrum.
Having overtaken rivals on his way to P3, the Emmerich-born driver held seven-time World Champion, Lewis Hamilton, at bay in the closing laps to record an emotional finish for the Hinwil-based team.
Asked to describe his feelings after his maiden F1 podium, Hulkenberg stated: "Happy, but, you know, it's a lot to take in, to process. It's been a very intense race. I think Lando has put it pretty well. It's so intense for us in the car in these changeable conditions on a damp track.
"You always feel like with one foot you're in the wall when you're exploring and on the limit and then trying to push. So, yeah, very intense. Obviously, it was a kind of a distance battle with Lewis at the end who was making up some ground, but not enough, luckily for us at the end.
"So, yeah, everything coming together, big relief, very happy, very positive day. From a massive low yesterday being almost last, literally on the grid, to this result is kind of surreal.
"It's going to take a few days to process everything and take it all in. Good news is we have two weeks now to enjoy it and to celebrate it properly over the next week before we go again.
Prssed on to reveal at what point in the race he realized the podium was on, Hulkenberg stated:"Before we pitted back onto slicks. I passed Lance, then Lewis passed Lance pretty quickly, and then I was able to keep him at bay and even pull away when the Inters started to wear more and more.
"So I was like, that was looking pretty positive and encouraging. Then 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 ten seconds.
"That gap was crucial. From there onwards, felt like a pretty long ten, 11, 12 laps, whatever it was. But from there onwards, I knew we have every chance to get this result. We just needed to keep it on the road while pushing."
Pressed on to reveal how much more it is possible with his Sauber F1 car, Hulkenberg conceded that the weather conditions played a big part in achieving a podium at Silverstone.
"You want even more? Jesus! I think that's pretty good for starters today. If we had a dry race, it would have been a very different day and outcome for us.
"Whilst we've made some really good improvements since Barcelona, today is obviously circumstantial, and the conditions made this race and this result possible.
"But I feel in the midfield fight we've definitely gained some momentum, and we are a serious competitor there. That's where our fight is, but it's always about maximizing every race, every weekend, and just trying to do well."
