Audi joys in Hülkenberg's victory celebration, as Lego trophy and champagne highlight the festivities - Audi Celebrates Hülkenberg with Lego Trophy and Champagne Party
Nico Hülkenberg made history at the 2025 British Grand Prix, securing his first-ever podium finish after a 15-year, 239-race career in Formula 1. Starting from 19th on the grid, Hülkenberg finished in third place, ending the longest wait for a podium in F1 history.
Hülkenberg, who signed a multi-year deal with Sauber, a team set to become Audi's factory Formula 1 team starting in 2026, delivered a remarkable performance that signifies the team's transformation and potential future success under the Audi brand. Sauber's management, led by Jonathan Wheatley and Mattia Binotto, has been revamped ahead of the upcoming season.
The podium finish marks a significant milestone for Hülkenberg, breaking his long "podium curse" and rewriting his legacy in F1. It also signals a new era for Sauber/Audi, showing progress towards becoming a competitive, top-tier team in Formula 1. Audi's upcoming full entry in 2026 with Hülkenberg as a confirmed driver raises expectations for strong performances, with the team building momentum from this successful season.
Hülkenberg's experience and renewed motivation suggest he could be a cornerstone for Audi's ambitions in F1. Sauber, currently placed sixth in the constructors' championship, has collected more points than Red Bull in the past four races. The team's progress has not gone unnoticed, with Mercedes and Aston Martin providing champagne for Hülkenberg's celebrations following his podium finish.
In the aftermath of his historic victory, Hülkenberg was seen celebrating with mechanics and guests, who chanted "Nico is on fire" to the tune of the party anthem "Freed from Desire." Max Verstappen, despite his fifth-place finish and likely dashed hopes of a fifth title, joined in the celebrations and gave Hülkenberg a triumphant fist bump on the cool-down lap. Verstappen even rescheduled his private jet's departure to take Hülkenberg back to his Monaco home as promised.
Mattia Binotto, Sauber's top manager and head of the future Audi works team project, praised the team for boosting morale. Binotto thanked the team principal for the progress made, including scoring points and having team members come to work with a smile. Binotto also postponed his return flight to attend the team party following Hülkenberg's podium finish.
The trophy for the Silverstone race was made of Lego blocks, a fitting tribute to Hülkenberg, who expressed that he won't complain about the Lego trophy, as he enjoys Lego and his daughter can play with it too. Jonathan Wheatley, the new team principal of Sauber, joined an impromptu media Q&A after the Silverstone race, expressing that there is still a long way to go before Sauber reaches its desired position, but the Silverstone race was a great springboard.
With Sauber's current form, the team could soon overtake Williams in the constructors' championship. The Audi works team likely felt a surge of momentum after Hülkenberg's podium debut, marking the beginning of a promising future as Audi prepares to establish itself as a major competitor in the sport starting next year.
I'm not going to be able to play hockey tonight, as I'm still celebrating Nico Hülkenberg's historic podium finish at the 2025 British Grand Prix, which also signals a new era for Sauber/Audi in Formula 1. The team's progress has been remarkable, even overtaking Red Bull in the past four races and collecting more points than them.
