Sauber’s Nico Hülkenberg finished fifth at the Spanish GP, scoring the team’s best result since 2022.
Nico Hülkenberg finished in the highest place for himself and Sauber, fifth, in the 2025 season at the Spanish GP. The German driver did cross the line in sixth but placed fifth after Max Verstappen’s 10-second penalty.
Hülkenberg qualified P16, but started the Spanish GP in P15 after Lance Stroll withdrew from the race due to a previous non-racing wrist injury. When talking to the media, Hülkenberg recalled,
“Yeah, I don’t know. Today, just everything clicked. Good start, mega first lap. Made a bunch of positions, which was the foundation for the race. And after, to be honest, just a good car.”
The Swiss based team brought upgrades to the Spanish GP. Hülkenberg noted that the C45 provided him with “good rhythm, good balance and harmony“.
“The updates really paying dividends, which was very enjoyable and obviously great to see. And then I think, you know, before the safety car was obviously a P8, it was going to be that.”
“The golden ticket”
With Hülkenberg knocked out in Q1, he had more new tires at the Spanish GP compared to those he was racing against. The Kick Sauber Driver noted how “ironic” qualifying P16 help him get a points finish.
“And then obviously the safety car kind of mixed up the race. And yeah, I think in the end, being out in Q1 yesterday and having all new fresh tyres, you know, was the golden ticket in hindsight. So pretty ironic, but yeah, paid off today.”
Kick Sauber pitted Hülkenberg early compared to other teams, which allowed the driver to enter the points. However, his strategy paid off spectacularly when the German overtook Lewis Hamilton on newer tyres towards the end of the race.
“Yeah, Lewis, I think it was a new soft, you know, and I had still all new because I was out so early yesterday. And it just shows you, you know, what a difference it is used to new [tyres]. One lap, you know, takes a lot of energy and life out of the tyres.”
The German driver notes that his Spanish GP high finish does not mean he is racing with “the big boys” but is hopeful for the team’s prospects in the midfield.
“So yeah, that was obviously enjoyable. But, you know, I think we’re not there really fighting with the big boys. But I think we made a big step, you know, in terms of fighting with the other midfield teams.“
