The Kick Sauber Formula 1 team is steadily climbing back into the points-scoring battle as the latest technical updates have significantly boosted the team’s fortunes this season. Following their historic podium finish at the British Grand Prix in Silverstone, experienced German driver Nico Hulkenberg shared insights about the progress the Swiss-based team has made throughout 2025 to elevate their car’s competitiveness and challenge their rivals more effectively. The upgrades that Sauber has introduced on the SF-25 have started to deliver the expected improvements, and even Mattia Binotto, Sauber’s Team Principal, has confirmed the positive momentum the team has enjoyed in recent races.
While the third-place finish at Silverstone stands out as a landmark achievement, it is important to recognize that this result was influenced by a number of unusual factors during the race weekend. Nonetheless, there is clear evidence that the car’s overall performance has improved markedly, particularly in the areas of tyre management and race pace consistency—two critical factors in Formula 1 success.
Nico Hulkenberg’s Detailed Analysis
The technical upgrades implemented by Sauber appear to be setting the stage for the team to pursue higher targets in the Constructors’ Championship standings. Currently, the Swiss outfit holds sixth place in the championship with 41 points, narrowing the gap to Williams to just 18 points—a remarkable feat considering that Williams seemed untouchable at the start of the season.
Nico Hulkenberg was keen to emphasize the measurable improvements made by the team, although he acknowledged that the podium finish was somewhat fortuitous: “We have made some good upgrades since the Barcelona Grand Prix. The conditions at Silverstone allowed us to capitalize and achieve this result. But I do believe that within the midfield pack, we have certainly taken a few steps forward.”
“We are genuine competitors in that zone of the grid. That is exactly where we need to be fighting, but it always comes down to optimizing every race, every weekend, and consistently performing well,” Hulkenberg added. This assessment highlights the significant transformation of the Sauber car, which last year was among the slowest on the grid but now ranks as one of the strongest midfield contenders behind the top teams.
Looking ahead, Sauber is preparing for a major transition as it will become Audi’s Formula 1 works team starting from the 2026 season. The future project looks very promising and ambitious. In the near future, Sauber will open a new state-of-the-art technical campus in the United Kingdom, which is expected to be a major asset in attracting talented engineers and technicians from other Formula 1 teams. Establishing a strong foothold in the UK’s motorsport hub and accessing this valuable pool of human capital could represent the crucial final step in launching Audi’s Formula 1 program with the ultimate goal of winning races and championships.
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