Wheatley: “No driver is more deserving of a podium than Nico”

On the back of Nico Hulkenberg’s maiden F1 podium at last Sunday’s British Grand Prix, Sauber’s team principal Jonathan Wheatley stressed that “no driver is more deserving of a podium than Nico.”

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.

Commenting on the Silverstone race, Sauber’s team principal Jonathan Wheatley struggled to find the rights word after a day on which the Hinwil-based outfit scored its first podium after almost 13 years.

“Where do I start… The most overdue podium in F1 history and the first podium for the team since Japan in 2012. This was a weekend of highs and lows but ultimately, we pulled it all together and when the opportunity was there, we grabbed it with both hands.

“After his success in Austria this was a frustrating weekend for Gabriel, but he grows stronger with every race. Easy to forget that this is still only his first season in F1 and I know he will be eager to get back on track and start the second half of the championship.

“Nico drove a masterclass today. From starting in 19th to P3 this was the lowest ever starting position for a podium finisher in Sauber’s 32-year history and after 239 Grand Prix starts, Nico delivered the goods. No driver is more deserving of a podium than Nico.

“Once again, we came together as a team today. We showed confidence and belief in ourselves, delivering a result that everyone in the factory and at the track can be justly proud of. What a day,” Wheatley concluded.

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