Mattia Binotto expressed his satisfaction following a surprising and historic result for the Sauber Formula 1 team, which achieved its first podium of the 2025 season at the British Grand Prix held at Silverstone, thanks to an exceptional performance by German driver Nico Hülkenberg. Here’s how the race unfolded from the team’s perspective and why this result marks a major step forward.
In a dramatic and unpredictable edition of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone—one marked by heavy rain showers and rapidly changing track conditions—Nico Hülkenberg secured the first podium finish of his long Formula 1 career. The Sauber team capitalized brilliantly on the slippery circuit conditions, delivering a near-flawless execution where even the sport’s top teams faltered and several less-experienced drivers struggled to keep their cars on track.
How significant was this third-place finish at Silverstone for Nico Hülkenberg and for the Sauber team overall? Team Principal Mattia Binotto shared his thoughts in an interview with Sky Sport following the conclusion of the race.
“There was definitely a strong element of luck involved,” Mattia Binotto admitted with a smile. “The weather conditions were quite unpredictable throughout the race. But Nico Hülkenberg drove a fantastic race. He didn’t take unnecessary risks in the early phases, stayed on track even when it got really tricky, and most importantly, he didn’t make a single mistake. He and the team chose exactly the right moments to make their pit stops and always made the correct tyre choices. In the end, it’s a well-deserved result. Very well done.”
According to Binotto, one of the key factors behind this success was the clarity and effectiveness of radio communication between Nico Hülkenberg and the Sauber pit wall. The exchanges were timely, informative, and decisive. “There were a lot of radio communications to assess the evolving track conditions, to understand how the other teams were doing, and to decide on the optimal tyre strategy,” he explained. “Even during the final stint, when choosing between medium and hard compound tyres, the communication was excellent. That shows the team is growing and developing in the right direction.”
A podium finish for Sauber at this point in the season—almost halfway through the 2025 championship—seemed like an impossible dream just a few weeks ago. And yet, against all expectations, that dream became a reality. Despite the surprise, Mattia Binotto revealed that he had a strong feeling something special could happen at Silverstone.
“I didn’t expect these kinds of results so early in the season,” the Sauber team boss admitted. “A podium finish? Absolutely not. But I had some good feelings heading into the weekend. The truth is, last night I was supposed to go back to the office, but I decided to stay with the team instead. Then this morning I said to myself, ‘If we end up on the podium today, I’ll stay until tonight and leave tomorrow.’ And that’s exactly how things turned out. Now we’re ready to celebrate,” Mattia Binotto concluded with a wide smile.
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