Charles Leclerc surprised by Nico Hulkenberg’s podium: "I had to check if it was really him"

Following Nico Hulkenberg’s impressive third-place finish at the 2025 British Grand Prix held at the historic Silverstone Circuit, several Formula 1 drivers expressed surprise and joy for their colleague, who finally achieved his long-awaited first podium finish after more than 16 years of competing at the highest level of motorsport.

The race at Silverstone ended with Nico Hulkenberg securing the first podium of his career in Formula 1. The performance of the German driver, currently racing for Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber, took many by surprise. He started the race from 19th on the grid and climbed all the way up to third place, reaching the podium for the very first time after participating in over 200 Grand Prix events. Here’s how fellow drivers reacted to this memorable achievement.

Already at the previous race in Austria, the Sauber team had demonstrated solid race pace and effective strategic choices, managing to score both cars in the points by finishing eighth and ninth at the end of the Austrian Grand Prix.

However, in Great Britain, the circumstances were quite different. Heavy rain during the event caught many teams off guard, and opting for slick tyres immediately after the formation lap turned out to be a misjudged move. Gabriel Bortoleto, for instance, lost control of his car and crashed into the barriers, forcing him to retire from the race prematurely.

Nico Hulkenberg, on the other hand, opted for a different strategic approach that paid off handsomely. His decisions and consistency allowed him to climb the order and finish in third place, just behind the two McLaren drivers. His pace was so competitive that he even managed to keep Lewis Hamilton, driving for Scuderia Ferrari, at bay, maintaining a five-second gap and thus securing his maiden Formula 1 podium.

Charles Leclerc’s Reaction
Charles Leclerc, who started the race from sixth on the grid, dropped down to 14th position during the race due to unfavourable conditions and strategy. Towards the end of the race, he glanced at the giant screens around the circuit and was surprised to see a Sauber car running near the front of the field.

The Monegasque driver explained: “I was trying to check whether it was Gabriel [Bortoleto] or Nico [Hulkenberg]. I was alone, ‘P-last’, so I had the luxury of watching the big screens in the last two or three laps.”

Charles Leclerc concluded with warm praise for his fellow competitor: “So congratulations to him. He must have had an incredible race.”

Max Verstappen’s Comments
Max Verstappen, the reigning Formula 1 World Champion, who finished two places behind Nico Hulkenberg, expressed genuine happiness for the German driver. Verstappen acknowledged how significant a first podium is, especially after waiting for it over such a long period.

The Dutch driver stated: “It’s fantastic, I’m genuinely happy for him. It was really nice to see because I think when you’ve been in Formula 1 for such a long time and you’ve never been on the podium—despite having come close a few times—it becomes something truly special.”

Although it took Nico Hulkenberg a record 239 Grand Prix starts since his Formula 1 debut in 2010 to step onto the podium, his motorsport résumé includes significant accomplishments. Most notably, he won the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race ten years ago. Verstappen highlighted that even without a Formula 1 podium to his name, Hulkenberg’s talent was never in question.

The four-time world champion added: “I think Nico is quite relaxed about it. He knows what he is capable of. He has shown that in the past, both before arriving in Formula 1 and during his time in the sport. For some reason, it just hadn’t worked out until now.”

Verstappen concluded: “He’ll definitely take it and be very happy, but I think he already knows how skilled he is. A podium doesn’t suddenly make you better—it’s just great that he finally gets to be up there in Formula 1.”

Gabriel Bortoleto’s Message
The Swiss team, which includes the period under the Alfa Romeo name, celebrated with overwhelming joy when Nico Hulkenberg crossed the finish line in third place—marking the team’s first podium in 13 years.

Gabriel Bortoleto, who had to retire after going off track on lap four, congratulated his teammate over the team radio and expressed sincere happiness for both Hulkenberg and the team.

“I’m happy for Nico; he did an outstanding job, and the team really deserved this,” said the 20-year-old Brazilian driver. “It was a tough day for me, but everyone in the garage deserves these valuable points and a podium. It’s the first of the season for both Nico and the team.”

He went on to add: “The whole team was screaming and jumping, so I was right there with them. I didn’t even have the radio anymore—I was jumping with the engineers and mechanics, everyone. And I ran towards the podium because I wanted to give Nico a hug. What he did today was truly spectacular.”