Formula One 2025: A story of resilience and redemption at Silverstone

The Hindu

4 days ago

Fate unravels in unexpected ways — there's no way to predict who ends up on the right side of things, and who pays the price.
The 2025 Silverstone Grand Prix typified that truth. On a weekend that began with a mix of expected patterns and unpredictable turns, it ended with redemption for a veteran, heartbreak for some, and a home victory for a rising British star.
McLaren's 1–2 finish extended its season-long dominance, with Lando Norris once again leading the charge — but there's no denying that seeing the third-place winner, Nico Hulkenberg of Kick Sauber, finally have his day brought a bright smile to many a face. To walk into the paddock season after season, longing for an elusive moment of glory, the German's elation was shared by one and all.
For him, this wasn't just a podium — it was a narrative arc finally coming full circle. After 239 races, 15 seasons, eight constructors, and many near misses, he was finally able to reap the rewards of his toil and hard work, capping an emotional, ecstatic weekend for a driver who no longer bears the painful record for most races in F1 history without a podium.
For homeboy Norris (left), fortune smiled wider. With the eyes of a passionate British crowd — including thousands at the iconic 'Landostand' fixed on him, the McLaren driver was a man on a mission and delivered a mighty performance that gave him the golden memory of being crowned the British GP champion.
It was a confidence-boosting victory that could prove pivotal in his title bid — a battle that has been shifting gears every round. Starting from third, behind teammate Oscar Piastri, the changing weather and theatrics never bothered a focused Norris. Winning at Silverstone, his true home, was the dream he'd long waited for.
What certainly helped his push was the harsh hand dealt to the other side of the McLaren garage. Silverstone was a missed opportunity and a chapter Piastri would like to forget quickly. A 10-second penalty for erratic driving behind the Safety Car — after he had cruised past pole-sitter Max Verstappen — dented his chances.
Nico Hulkenberg is all smiles after grabbing third place ahead of Lewis Hamilton. | Photo Credit: REUTERS
A gamble backfires
Verstappen was poised for a better outing after the Austria disappointment, but it was Red Bull's ambitious choices that sealed his fate. The Dutchman was sensational in Saturday's qualifying to steal pole with a mighty lap.
But the gamble of driving a heavily tweaked car — the team's gamble to opt for a low-downforce setup, compromising balance in corners for greater speed on the straights — backfired.
A wet-and-dry race is always a challenge for drivers, and with Verstappen having to fight the car, he was out of the lead and soon tumbled further. Though making his way back up to fifth, his increasing inability to challenge the McLaren duo deepened Red Bull's woes. What was once an invincible partnership is now withering rapidly.
Only a few days after the race, Red Bull announced that its long-time Team Principal, Christian Horner, had been stripped of his duties. A 20-year tenure that saw six Constructors' titles and eight Drivers' crowns came to a grinding halt. Whether Red Bull's future leads to recovery or collapse, one thing is certain — the old guard is gone, and the overhaul is in motion.
A veteran's day to remember
Amid all the turmoil at the front — a championship fight swinging wildly, a giant in disarray, and varying results — it was a quiet, beaming Hulkenberg who gave Silverstone its purest moment.
Though far from the frontrunners in outright pace, Hulkenberg's charge from the back of the grid (19th) to the podium was nothing short of miraculous. That he succeeded with one of the slowest cars on the grid made the achievement even more remarkable.
To put it into perspective, there was less than a 10-second gap to the fourth-placed car with more than a handful of laps still to go. Hulkenberg had to nail every turn until the very last corner.
And the driver in hot pursuit? None other than Lewis Hamilton — the nine-time British GP winner, now in Ferrari red, desperate to extend his streak of 11 consecutive British GP podiums.
The fire was alive in the experienced Hamilton, but Hulkenberg extracted every ounce from the neon green car (below), holding him off with composure. Hamilton never came close, but he was among the first to praise the veteran who finally had his day and gave the sport a memory that will be cherished for years.