Sauber have had a terrible start to their 2025 Formula 1 season, but it seems their upgrade at the Spanish Grand Prix has turned their fortunes around.
Aside from an anomaly at the season opener in Melbourne, where Nico Hulkenberg finished seventh, Sauber failed to score points in all other races until they reached Barcelona, where they brought a significant upgrade that seemed to transform their car, the C45.
Hulkenberg finished fifth in Spain and then eighth in Canada, while in Austria Sauber scored points with both cars as rookie Gabriel Bortoleto finished eighth, scoring his first points in the top flight, and was ahead of his teammate, who was ninth.
But then came that crazy race at Silverstone, and Hulkenberg took his first ever podium, third place, after 239 attempts.
The Hulk was buzzing after that race but was asked if there was more performance to unlock from the C45; he quipped: "You want even more? Jesus!
"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," he added.
The German was keen to manage expectations and explained: "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," he claimed. "That's where our fight is, but it's always about maximizing every race, every weekend, and just trying to do well."
Sauber are currently sixth in the 2025 F1 constructors' championship with 41 points, five points ahead of Racing Bulls and Aston Martin in seventh and eighth but with the same points tally. (Reporting by Agnes Carlier)
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