The 2025 F1 São Paulo GP weekend brought both progress and frustration for Sauber’s Nico Hülkenberg. The German driver, who has been central to the team’s development during the 2025 Formula 1 season, faced a turbulent few days at Interlagos. A costly Sprint Race incident on Saturday forced urgent repairs, leaving the mechanics with a tight turnaround before Qualifying.
Despite the setback, Hülkenberg responded with a strong performance in qualifying, placing his Sauber tenth on the grid — his first Q3 appearance of the season. It was a rewarding outcome after a difficult build-up, and the 37-year-old was quick to praise the team’s hard work while admitting his irritation at how the situation unfolded.
Repairs and recovery after Sprint Race damage
Speaking to written media after taking P10 in Qualifying, Hülkenberg explained the extent of the damage sustained in the earlier Sprint Race and how Sauber’s crew managed to get the car back into shape within the short period under the Red Flag.
“My car, I think, was largely repaired, yes. [They] did it pretty well. The corners didn’t take any damage, it was just the front wing cleanly and the rear wing cleanly. I think the floor, but they even managed to patch that up somehow and it didn’t really cost too much. But obviously then from the back it was more like a test after that. But yeah, still unnecessary and a bit frustrating.”
Hülkenberg acknowledged that while the car had been effectively rebuilt, re-starting the Sprint Race from the back turned the race into a test session rather than a true competition. The frustration in his words reflected the feeling of a weekend that began with potential but was derailed too soon.
A tricky Qualifying but a step forward
After the 2025 São F1 Paulo GP Sprint Race drama, Hülkenberg’s focus shifted to maximising Qualifying. Interlagos is one of Formula 1’s shortest laps, meaning tiny differences can drastically change the order. Despite gusty winds and inconsistent grip levels, he managed to deliver when it mattered most.
“Yeah, Quali, tricky. Obviously positive to be in Q3 for the first time this year. Which sounds, I don’t know…” he said, continuing, “Yeah, impressive how long I think. But it was difficult. Not easy to drive the car, pretty gusty out there and the grip very inconsistent.”
The veteran’s satisfaction at breaking into the top ten was tempered by the demanding conditions. The wind sweeping across the circuit made the car difficult to predict, especially in Interlagos’s flowing middle sector. For Sauber, though, the result marked tangible progress in a season defined by gradual improvement.
Tight margins and a clean lap
With close margins covering the midfield, Hülkenberg’s clean execution in Q1 and Q2 proved decisive, ultimately securing him a place in Q3. Asked if he thought there was more performance to find, he explained that the lap felt strong — and that the nature of Interlagos made for an exceptionally tight field.
“Not really,” he said when asked if he could have been closer to the front, “I think my lap was clean. I mean it’s a short lap that obviously also always puts the grid closer together. But it’s just a little bit everywhere, I guess.”
Finding form after a tough Qualifying phase
Hülkenberg’s Q3 at the 2025 F1 São Paulo GP appearance was also a sign for improved Qualifying form after notable struggles in the opening part of the season. Reflecting on that period, he spoke openly about the challenges and how persistence helped him turn things around.
“I think there’s not a clear answer to this,” he answered when asked why he had struggled so much in Qualifying earlier in 2025. “I think it’s just one of them things. You work through it, you keep grinding, you keep looking at stuff, you work your way in. You have to dig a bit deeper than usual when things are not so good.”
“And yeah, somehow we found a bit more confidence for me. Found another gear and managed to unlock more and more one lap performance.”
By working closely with his engineers and pushing through difficult weekends, Hülkenberg has rediscovered the consistency that allows him to extract the most from the car — particularly over one lap.
Analysing the Turn 3 incident in the Sprint Race
The Sprint Race at Interlagos also featured a dramatic moment at Turn 3, where Hülkenberg lost control under tricky conditions. Explaining what happened, he admitted uncertainty about the cause but pointed to moisture on the track, possibly left by Oscar Piastri’s own crash moments earlier, as a contributing factor.
“I don’t know to be honest. It was only obviously Lap 5, 4, Lap 5. It was Lap 6 early. But it was too much. Whatever, we did it before or not, but this was too much. I don’t know, maybe when Oscar [Piastri] put a bit of water out of that curve. Obviously, there were a few cars that after that didn’t have that problem. But yeah, I obviously did and it was just too much.”
Despite the early setback, Hülkenberg’s P10 in Qualifying at the 2025 F1 São Paulo GP represented a meaningful recovery for both driver and team. Sauber’s rapid repair work and the German’s composed performance under pressure demonstrated resilience — a quality that could prove essential as the team looks to end 2025 on a high.
