Spanish GP: Hülkenberg Ends Sauber’s Points Drought | F1 2024
Nico Hülkenberg’s stellar drive at the Spanish Grand Prix catapulted Sauber out of the F1 doldrums! His remarkable fifth-place finish not only marked his best result in three years but also vaulted the team ahead of Aston Martin and Alpine in the standings. This strategic masterclass, leveraging tire management and capitalizing on safety car interventions, showcases a important turnaround for the Swiss-based team, which hadn’t seen points since the season opener. The German driver’s performance highlights the impact of upgrades and strategic choices. As always, News Directory 3 delivers the news fast. can Sauber maintain this momentum, or will other teams respond? Discover what’s next for the revitalized team.
Hülkenberg’s strong finish lifts Sauber in F1 standings
Updated June 2, 2025
Nico Hülkenberg’s notable drive at the Spanish Grand prix propelled Sauber, soon to be the Audi factory team, out of last place in the Formula 1 standings. His fifth-place finish marked Sauber’s best result in three years. The team is now eighth surpassing Aston Martin and Alpine.
The result marks a significant turnaround for the Swiss-based team, which hadn’t scored points as Hülkenberg’s seventh-place finish at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in March. This strong showing highlights the impact of recent car upgrades and strategic decisions.
Hülkenberg, who has scored all of Sauber’s points this season, overtook Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time world champion from Ferrari, to secure fifth place.His teammate, Brazilian rookie Gabriel Bortoleto, finished 12th and has yet to score his first F1 points.
“It was one of those Sundays where everything came together really well,” Hülkenberg said.
He also noted the importance of tire strategy. “Ironically, not having the best Saturday and saving a set of softs gave us a strategic edge with the tire allocation. The safety car mixed things up a bit, and having those fresh compounds turned out to be a golden ticket,” Hülkenberg added, highlighting the team’s adaptability.
Sauber is currently tied with Aston Martin at 16 points, but leads based on higher placings. Alpine trails behind.
What’s next
With momentum from the Spanish Grand Prix, Sauber aims to continue improving their performance and secure more points finishes as the Formula 1 season progresses. The team looks forward to further development as it transitions into the Audi factory team next year.