Nico Hulkenberg has documented the inspired strategic call that played a crucial role in him securing a “surreal” maiden podium in Formula 1 in the British Grand Prix.
Hulkenberg came home a distant third behind the two McLaren drivers to put an end to his unwanted 238-race record run without a single appearance on the rostrum.
The German lined up in 19th place on a damp Silverstone grid, but a well-timed switch to new Intermediates on Lap 9 catapulted him into contention at the sharp end.
Sauber’s quick thinking on the pit wall promoted Hulkenberg up into fourth, where he remained until he passed Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin once DRS became enabled.
But while Lewis Hamilton’s charging Ferrari threatened to spoil the dream result, Hulkenberg crossed the line with more than five seconds in hand over the home hero.
“Happy, but, you know, it’s a lot to take in, to process,” Hulkenberg told media including Motorsport Week.
“It’s been a very intense race. It’s so intense for us in the car in these changeable conditions on a damp track.
“You always feel like with one foot you’re in the wall when you’re exploring and on the limit and then trying to push. So, yeah, very intense.
“Obviously, it was a kind of a distance battle with Lewis at the end who was making up some ground, but not enough, luckily for us at the end.
“So, yeah, everything coming together, big relief, very happy, very positive day.
“From a massive low yesterday being almost last, literally on the grid, to this is kind of surreal. It’s going to take a few days to process everything and take it all in.”
Hulkenberg admitted that struggles with extreme degradation on his original Intermediates prompted the instinctive choice to box right as the precipitation increased.
“I was just dropping back – I was really struggling with that first set, so they said the rain is coming,” he explained.
“So I just dived into the pits, to be honest, without thinking too much at the time, and then kind of went out, and the rain started, and it was real good timing.
“I think they could not have been better, we pitted at the perfect time every single time, which is very rare, and kind of difficult to do, but just how it happened today.”
When Hulkenberg realised podium was on
Hamilton had reeled in the Sauber ahead as the track dried when Ferrari elected to pit the seven-time champion onto slicks on Lap 41 in a bid to undercut Hulkenberg.
However, the switch would prove to be premature as Hamilton skated wide at Village on his out lap, which gave Hulkenberg breathing room once he pitted on that lap.
“I think the other significant decision, given Lewis’ pace, was the time that we boxed onto the Medium tyre after that,” Sauber boss Jonathan Wheatley highlighted.
“We waited, we kept our powder dry, we weren’t the first to go, we were watching very carefully what the other drivers did and I think we got the timing right on that.”
Hulkenberg, though, has divulged how he was aware that third place was on the cards prior to that when both he and Hamilton were still lapping on the Intermediates.
Asked when he began to sense that a podium was a realistic proposition, Hulkenberg responded: “Before we pitted back onto slicks.
“I passed Lance, then Lewis passed Lance pretty quickly, and then I was able to keep him at bay and even pull away when the Inters started to wear more and more.
“So I was like, that was looking pretty positive and encouraging.
“Then I think we made a really good call by stopping one lap later than he did for the slicks, and we gained I think around 10 seconds. That gap was crucial.
“From there onwards, felt like a pretty long 10, 11, 12 laps, whatever it was.
“But from there onwards, I knew we have every chance to get this result. We just needed to keep it on the road while pushing.”
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