Latest news with #KickSauber
News18
3 days ago
- Automotive
- News18
Not Kimi Antonelli! Fernando Alonso Picks 20-Year-Old As 'Best Of The Generation'
Last Updated: Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso has lauded 20-year-old Brazilian driver Gabriel Bortoleto as the best of his generation. Aston Martin's veteran racing driver Fernando Alonso has said that the 20-year-old Brazilian driver, Kick Sauber's Gabriel Bortoleto, is the best among the current generation, pointing out how he won both F3 and F2 as a rookie. Even though Kimi Antonelli has been the standout rookie in F1 this season, Alonso's favourite is Bortoleto. The Brazilian has showcased composure, and in Alonso's eyes, that makes him a generational talent in the making. Bortoleto arrived in Formula 1 with the unique distinction of winning both Formula 2 and Formula 3 championships in his first season. Slotted into Kick Sauber, which will morph into Audi's factory outfit next year, Bortoleto entered Formula 1 with high expectations. He is under the tutelage of Alonso's driver management team A14 as well, adding an extra layer to the connection between the duo. But 12 races in, Bortoleto has scored only four points, sitting 19th in the standings, only above Franco Colapinto of Alpine. 'Very good, but no surprises at all. Last year in Abu Dhabi, I think that he is the best of this generation. He won Formula 3 as a rookie. He won Formula 2 as a rookie," Alonso was quoted as saying by GP Blog. Coming from the Spanish veteran, that is high praise in a season where the debutants have shown immense depth. At just 18, Antonelli was thrown into a pressure seat at Mercedes, one left behind by seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton. Antonelli already has 63 points, bagged a sprint pole at the Miami GP and even stood on the podium at the Canada Grand Prix. He has reached Q3 nine times as well. He is currently seventh in the standings, just behind Hamilton and ahead of Alexander Albon of Williams. Meanwhile, Isack Hadjar has 21 points, thrice the combined tally of his two Racing Bulls teammates across the year. He has secured 58% of the team's total points, the highest share by any debutant in 2025. He is currently 11th in the standings behind Esteban Ocon and ahead of Alonso's teammate Lance Stroll. Oliver Bearman's season at Haas has flown under the radar, but he has impressed as well. He is currently ranked 18th, behind Yuki Tsunoda and just above Bortoleto. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Newsweek
17-07-2025
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Nico Hulkenberg Makes Big Claim About Sauber After Maiden F1 Podium Finish
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Sauber Formula One driver Nico Hulkenberg has made a significant claim about his team, stating that it is now a "serious competitor" in the midfield. The German driver made the admission after securing his first podium finish in F1 at the British Grand Prix. Hulkenberg's P3 finish at Silverstone reportedly made bigger headlines than Lando Norris' race win at his home venue. The last stage of the British GP saw Hulkenberg fend off seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton in his Ferrari in the fight for the third spot. Sauber, which is set to be taken over by Audi, is a classic example of what teams can do when the regulations remain consistent over multiple F1 seasons. Hulkenberg has scored points in five races thus far, while his teammate Gabriel Bortoleto secured a points finish in Austria. This has elevated Sauber's position in the championship standings to P6, a stark contrast to its last position finish from last year. Sauber is currently ahead of Alpine, Haas, Aston Martin, and Racing Bulls in the championship. Speaking on his Silverstone race finish, Hulkenberg acknowledged that the situation would have been different if the British GP had been a dry race. He said: Nico Hulkenberg of Germany and Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber answers questions in the TV media pen during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Great Britain at Silverstone Circuit on July 5, 2025... Nico Hulkenberg of Germany and Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber answers questions in the TV media pen during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Great Britain at Silverstone Circuit on July 5, 2025 in Northampton, United Kingdom. More"I think that's pretty good for starters today. If we had a dry race, it would have been a very different day and outcome for us." The 37-year-old driver admitted that the team made significant improvements after the Spanish Grand Prix. He added: "Whilst we've made some really good improvements since Barcelona, today [at Silverstone] is obviously circumstantial, and the conditions made this race and this result possible. "But I feel in the midfield fight we've definitely gained some momentum, and we are a serious competitor there. That's where our fight is, but it's always about maximising every race, every weekend, and just trying to do well." Newsweek Sports reported Hulkenberg's comments on his podium finish. He said: "I always knew, you know, we have it in us, I have it in me somewhere. "I mean, what a race, coming from virtually last, doing it all over again from last weekend. It's pretty surreal, to be honest. "Not sure how it all happened, but obviously, crazy conditions, mixed conditions. It was a survival fight for a lot of the race. "I think we just were really on it, the right course, the right tyres, in the right moment, made no mistakes. And, yeah, quite incredible."
The Hindu
17-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Hindu
Formula One 2025: A story of resilience and redemption at Silverstone
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.
Qatar Tribune
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Qatar Tribune
Drivers praise Nico for maiden F1 podium
Berlin: Fifteen years after his Formula One debut, Nico Hulkenberg finally scored his maiden podium at his 239th race. The Kick Sauber driver ended his podium drought with the help of a clever team strategy at the British Grand Prix on Sunday. But achievement was even more impressive because he started 19th on the grid and had to fight hard to hold-off nine-time Silverstone winner Lewis Hamilton. Team-mate Gabriel Bortoleto led the rounds of deserved praise saying: 'Seeing him fight for the podium and achieve this result after so many years in F1 means a lot. He is the best team-mate I have ever worked with - both as a driver and as a person - and he absolutely deserves this moment.' Four-time defending champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull greeted Hülkenberg during the cool-down lap and was swift to go over to him in parc feme to shake hands. 'The race wasn't that enjoyable for me but it was nice to see Nico get his first podium and I'm sure he will be celebrating tonight,' said Verstappen, who could only manage a fifth place after spinning on track and dropping to 10th. Williams' Carlos Sainz, a former team-mate of Hulkenberg at Renault in 2018, said that the German has always been a top-five driver in the grid. (PA Media/dpa)
The Drive
07-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Drive
Nico Hulkenberg's Underdog Story Is Exactly What F1 Needed
The latest car news, reviews, and features. Fifteen years, 239 lights out, and 42 retirements into his career, Nico Hulkenberg is a Formula 1 podium finisher. As sheets of rain coated the track surface and sprayed visors, the 37-year-old Kick Sauber driver managed to hold onto a third-place position at Sunday's 2025 British Grand Prix. And while the result obviously matters, it's how he scored it that is just as important. Getty/Anadolu If you had told Hulkenberg on Friday that he would be standing on a podium step listening to 'God Save the King' in two days' time, he probably would have laughed. He finished 17th in the second free practice session and 15th in the third. The team's junior driver, Paul Aron, stood in for Hulkenberg in FP1, meaning shortened track time for the No. 27 driver. Saturday's qualifying session didn't bode any better with him saying, 'Quite frankly, we just didn't have the pace to make it through.' Hulkenberg lined up in the 19th grid slot come Sunday's main event; last as Franco Colapinto's Alpine never left the pit lane. But in a rapid recovery drive in the wet, the German driver managed to crawl his way to the top of the leaderboard. By lap seven—after a handful of cars gave up their starting positions in favor of exchanging intermediate tires for slicks on a drying track and a series of rookies slid and crashed—Hulkenberg had secured 10th. That finishing position alone would have been one of his better races of the 2024 season. But he didn't stop there. As the skies opened and lap 14 brought out the safety car, a flash of neon green could be seen near the front of the field in fifth. Max Verstappen's spin on lap 21 allowed for Hulkenberg to clinch fourth, and 14 laps around the track later, he successfully picked off Lance Stroll to take third in a clean lunge forward. He managed to keep Lewis Hamilton, who was aiming to turn 15 Silverstone podiums into 16, and Verstappen at bay in fourth and fifth. Getty Going into the 2025 British Grand Prix weekend, there were clear podium contenders: It was a Ferrari vs. McLaren duel, with a slight chance of Mercedes entering the mix. Hamilton snatched the top spot in the first free practice session of the weekend, his teammate Leclerc went fastest in FP3, and Lando Norris, who won the race, slipped ahead to take FP2. Even as Verstappen's Red Bull showed the unpredictable was possible after a pearl-clutching qualifying lap placed him comfortably on pole, a splash of chartreuse up front wasn't in the cards. While Hulkenberg's race involved a whole lot of luck, it was his patience that paid off, paired with a certain brand of scrappy racing resilience. It was the kind of back-of-the-pack turned podium performance that, like any good underdog story, reminds fans why they fell in love with racing in the first place. Sometimes it's really easy not to be romantic about racing, especially in eras where teams with massive talent pools and budgets dominate the competition. Halfway through the season, weekends can often feel like a drag of laps that blur together into one string of speed. But other times, you sit back, slack-jawed, and ask: 'How can you not be romantic about 20 cars driving in odd shapes?' Sunday was one of those days. Despite a title battle, this season hasn't provided too many starry-eyed moments. A 37-year-old racing driver in an inferior car holding up a third-place trophy is enough to get the waterworks going—even if that trophy is made of Lego bricks. Getty/MI News Although entering the sport through a traditional route, he's had a not-so-traditional career while in the motorsport series: competing for eight teams since 2010, snagging pole position in his rookie year, and winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans driving for Porsche in 2015. Despite proving himself as a racer's racer, Hulkenberg holds some of the less-than-desirable stats in the sport, including the second-most points without a win and the most starts without a win. But he's also shown serious pace this season. He's scored more points (31) than both Red Bulls (29) in the last four races. Hulkenberg pulled out a cinematic moment that rivaled the F1: The Movie storyline and might just prove to movie-turned-grand prix converts that the sport is also capable of tiny, magical moments. Waiting 15 years for those moments—or seeing a recovery drive in the wet once a season—only makes them that much sweeter. Hulkenberg, exhausted and smiling, summed it up nicely: 'One of the best days of my career.' Got a tip? Email us at tips@
