Hulkenberg Claims First F1 Podium as Sauber Stuns at Silverstone
SILVERSTONE, England In a season where Sauber wasn’t expected to make headlines, Nico Hulkenberg delivered a career-defining moment with a shock third-place finish at the British Grand Prix his first-ever Formula 1 podium and the team’s best result in over a decade.
The surprise performance sent a wave of celebration through the paddock. Even rival team Mercedes joined the cheers, sending over bottles of champagne to mark the occasion. Sauber team members erupted in joy, toasting their unexpected success in what was supposed to be a quiet “development year.”
Back in February, Hulkenberg had downplayed expectations, calling 2025 a foundation-building season. Like several other mid-field outfits, Sauber set to become Audi’s works team in 2026 has been channeling its resources into preparing for the sport’s upcoming regulation overhaul. But Sunday’s result proved that even a forward-looking team can find magic in the present.
Midfield Ambitions Ahead of 2026
As Formula 1 prepares for a major rule reset in 2026, teams like Sauber, Aston Martin, and Williams are laying the groundwork for a new era. The changes will bring smaller, more agile cars, more electric power, and advanced aerodynamic features like moveable wings.
Aston Martin, for instance, is already deep into next year’s development. Team boss Andy Cowell recently confirmed that 99% of the effort at their state-of-the-art wind tunnel located right next to the Silverstone circuit — is focused on the 2026 car. That machine will be the first designed under legendary engineer Adrian Newey, who’s known for building title-winning cars at Red Bull, McLaren, and Williams.
“He’s a genius with space management,” Cowell joked. “He can fit 10 systems where there’s usually room for one.”
Although results have been modest so far in 2025, Aston Martin had reason to smile at Silverstone with Lance Stroll finishing seventh and Fernando Alonso ninth their first double-points result of the season.
Meanwhile, Williams has also been preparing behind the scenes. Driver Alex Albon tested 2026 concepts in the simulator before this season even began. With renewed investment and structural changes, the once-dominant team hopes to recapture the success it enjoyed in the 1980s and ’90s.
Top Teams Face Tense Transition
While midfield teams look ahead, front-runners like Red Bull are facing tough choices: how long to continue pushing for 2025 success before fully shifting focus to 2026?
Red Bull came out on top after the last major rule shift in 2022, with Max Verstappen securing four consecutive titles. But this time, there are more uncertainties. Star designer Adrian Newey is on his way out, and the team is launching a new power unit collaboration with Ford under the Red Bull Powertrains banner.
Adding to the uncertainty are swirling rumors about Verstappen’s future, with speculation linking the Dutch driver to a potential move to Mercedes. McLaren boss Zak Brown warned it would be a “disaster” if Red Bull were to lose their star driver.
“F1 runs in cycles,” said Red Bull team principal Christian Horner. “We’ve had two very successful ones. Now, we’re planning the next and we hope Max is part of that.”
He added, “Becoming a new engine manufacturer brings big challenges. The pressure is real.”
A Glimmer of What’s Possible
History has shown that regulation changes often come with growing pains. McLaren, for example, needed more than two years post-2022 reset before returning to winning form but their progress set the stage for long-term competitiveness.
Now, with 2026 looming, the grid is divided: some teams are squeezing everything from the current car, while others are looking further down the road.
For Sauber, Silverstone served as a powerful reminder: even in a transitional season, big moments can still happen and when they do, they’re worth celebrating with a borrowed bottle of champagne.
