From Nico Hülkenberg to Kamui Kobayashi: 13 years later, Sauber is back on the podium!
It was October 7th, 2012: Kamui Kobayashi, the home hero, delivered a memorable third-place finish for Sauber at the Japanese Grand Prix. Back then, the Ferrari-powered C31 regularly fought in the top five during a brilliant season also driven by a young Sergio Pérez, who made waves with his impressive tyre management.
Then came the slow decline — changes in ownership, tough seasons, years at the back of the grid… until now. July 6th, 2025, at Silverstone. Nico Hülkenberg has finally broken a 13-year curse, bringing the Swiss team back to the podium.
A huge result, marking what feels like a rebirth — for the team, now officially called Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber, and for Hülkenberg, who had never stood on a Formula 1 podium in his previous 208 Grand Prix starts. A long career filled with experience and talent, but also often plagued by bad luck and uncompetitive machinery. And yet, amid the chaos of the 2025 British Grand Prix, the long-awaited breakthrough finally came.
VIDEO – SAUBER CELEBRATES UNDER THE PODIUM!
Perfect Strategy and Ice-Cold Nerves
In a race marked by constantly changing weather conditions, incidents, Virtual Safety Cars and non-stop tyre changes, Kick Sauber nailed every strategic call. Hülkenberg kept his cool, avoided unnecessary risks, and capitalised on every opportunity. The key? Making the right tyre calls at the right moments. The team brought Nico in just in time to avoid traffic and leapfrog rivals struggling for grip or pitting too late.
When the rain returned heavily in the second half of the race — only to dry up for the final 15 laps — the German driver found himself ahead of Hamilton and Stroll, fighting like a lion until the chequered flag. Behind only Norris and Piastri, Hülkenberg crossed the line in third, earning a standing ovation from the entire paddock. A podium that once seemed impossible in his career, finally became reality.
The Comeback of a Legendary Underdog: Sauber’s Story
Founded in 1993, Sauber has always been regarded as a high-level underdog — a team known for nurturing young talents while occasionally pulling off big results on the right day. From Heinz-Harald Frentzen in 1995 to Nick Heidfeld, Robert Kubica and Sergio Pérez, the Swiss team has launched many F1 stars and written emotional chapters in the sport’s history.
.
