Johnny Herbert applauds Nico Hulkenberg’s performance in F1 Spanish GP: “You can always count on him”. Johnny Herbert praises Nico Hulkenberg after his fifth-place finish in Barcelona.

What a race from the German
After his standout result in Melbourne, Nico Hulkenberg delivered a second masterpiece in this 2025 season, allowing Sauber to leave behind the tenth and last spot in the Constructors’ standings, even drawing level with Aston Martin in eighth place with 16 points. In the final stages of the Grand Prix in Barcelona, the German driver had the satisfaction of overtaking Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari and, thanks to the penalty handed to Max Verstappen, finished the race in fifth place—a result that, as of now, puts Sauber ahead of Aston Martin in the standings.

In 2026, Audi will make its debut in F1 and will certainly be able to rely on a highly experienced driver who, after providing valuable contributions at Haas, is now doing the same for the team led by Mattia Binotto.

“It’s fantastic to see Nico Hulkenberg in the top five, you can always count on him,” said Johnny Herbert, speaking to InstantWithdrawalBettingSites. “It’s incredible he has never won a Grand Prix in F1. He could potentially achieve that dream as an Audi driver, though there’s still a lot of work to do to reach the level of McLaren, Red Bull, Ferrari, and Mercedes. In Barcelona, however, Sauber’s performance was respectable, also thanks to some updates—we’ll see in the next few races whether it was just a one-off or if they can build on it.” Mattia Binotto stated that Audi’s roadmap is to become a title-contending team by 2030.