Sauber team principal Jonathan Wheatley shares his delight following Nico Hulkenberg’s shock Formula 1 British GP podium for the Hinwil based outfit.
“He showed his class today”: Wheatley on Hülkenberg’s F1 British GP podium
Nico Hülkenberg achieved his first Formula 1 podium finish during last weekend’s British GP. In the wake of a dramatic improvement from Sauber in recent weeks, team principal Jonathan Wheatley reflected on the Silverstone result.
Speaking in a print media session following the F1 British GP, Wheatley struggled to put into words the feelings of the moment. As the team makes strides ahead of Audi’s takeover from next season, last weekend’s podium seemed a good omen for things to come.
“[Nico Hülkenberg] was almost in a state of shock when I saw him under the podium and chatted to him,” Wheatley explained when asked to sum up the emotions in Silverstone. “But you know, how do I sum it up? I’m just trying to stay in the moment and enjoy it rather than this relentless sort of merry-go-round that we’re on to the next race and next race.
“Nico drove an outstanding race today. One of the best I’ve seen at Silverstone and one of the best I’ve seen of any driver ever. And it seems incredible to me that we’re all celebrating a podium as it feels to me like he should have been getting them all his career.
“It seems to be the longest waiting podium ever. He showed his class today. Didn’t put a wheel wrong. And the team made all the right decisions in terms of strategy. Stayed out when we needed to stay out and then switched to the medium at the right time. I’m just very, very proud of him.”
Reflecting on the F1 British GP, the Sauber man had nothing but praise for Hulkenberg. Looking at the German’s career, Wheatley admitted he was shocked that Hulkenberg had not reached the podium before.
When asked about working with Hülkenberg, Wheatley said he had been excited at the opportunity. Continuing on he doubled down on his praise for his driver following an impressive Silverstone result.
“I’ve considered [Hülkenberg] to be an extraordinary talent for a very long time and I think I’ve been consistent in saying that to everyone here. It seemed incredible to me that he’s never achieved a podium in his career. I think he showed today what he’s capable of and I think also for him it’s a milestone. The monkey’s off his back.
“[I was] hugely excited about the opportunity to work with Nico. I’ve known him for a really long time. Drivers’ briefings, chatting in the paddock. I think we had a couple of beers in the BRDC here one year as well.”
“He’s an outstanding driver and he just showed it today.”
“It was absolutely the right decision” — Wheatley on Silverstone strategy
The media also asked Wheatley about the team’s strategy throughout what was a difficult and changeable Grand Prix. Having elected to stop early and pitting on lap 9 for fresh intermediate tyres, the team set Hülkenberg up well for a heavy rain shower.
Following the Grand Prix, Wheatley was asked if this early stop had been a planned undercut of those ahead. While the undercut effect benefitted Hülkenberg, Wheatley explained the weather radar was the key to informing their decision.
“We had an eye on the weather that was coming,” Wheatley explained. “Which I think is what everyone did. And then I think Nico just felt like his intermediates had just had it and he thought the same. We boxed him at that point. It was absolutely the right decision.”
Hülkenberg remained on the same set of intermediate tyres until a late change to slick on lap 42. Wheatley explained the team’s approach was to wait until the opportune moment to make the switch to dry tyres.
“Then the other significant decision, given Lewis’ pace was the time that we boxed onto the medium tyre after that. We waited, we kept our powder dry, we weren’t the first to go, we were watching very carefully what the other drivers did and I think we got the timing right on that.”
The media then asked Wheatley why the team chose medium tyres for the final stint rather than softs. He went on to explain the team did not even consider soft tyres due to the distance remaining when they reached the crossover point.
“We were talking to Nico about the right tyre, and really honestly, we were thinking whether it was the hard or the medium to go for. We weren’t really considering the soft unless it was a bit later in the race.”
