Nico Hulkenberg celebrates 250th F1 begin with Gladiator helmet and Sauber tribute

Nico Hulkenberg is making his 250th Method 1 begin in Abu Dhabi this weekend. In celebration of this large milestone, he is sporting a particular Gladiator helmet with a design that mirrors the traits which have allowed him to remain and thrive within the championship for such a very long time.

Requested how clearly he remembers his F1 debut in 2010, the Sauber driver says he is “joyful to be nonetheless round”.

“Not tremendous nicely,” he admitted. “Bits of it, however yeah, good milestone, good achievement, clearly for me personally, for my profession. And yeah, joyful to be nonetheless round, residing the dream and having fun with myself.”

The helmet design has been revealed as a logo of his power that culminated in a extremely profitable 2025 season and his first, long-awaited podium end on the British Grand Prix.

“Effectively, I feel it simply resembles just a little bit what you want right here within the sport,” he continued. “Resilience, combating spirit, endurance, all these sort of attributes, I feel, are wanted to outlive for that lengthy on this business.”

The German’s first podium was additionally Sauber’s first podium end since 2012, one thing that has helped push it from the very backside of the constructors’ standings. However whereas this yr has been a confidence increase for Hulkenberg, it hasn’t all been easy crusing.

“To be trustworthy, it was not one thing that I actively actually considered alongside the way in which. Clearly from 2010, okay, one yr out, ’11, after which again, it was a continuing prepare and fairly comfy and safe. On the finish of ’19 or, by ’19, I sort of wanted and needed a break.

“Once more, did not assume an excessive amount of in regards to the future, after which clearly had the comeback in ’23, so it simply developed and sort of occurred.”

On the again of his first season with Sauber, he mirrored on the progress they made as a group.

“I feel roughly. I feel the season or the yr has been a bit two-sided. Clearly, we began off poorly and below the expectations and behind our expectation and potential.

Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber, Steven Petrik, Nico Hulkenberg race engineer

Picture by: Sauber

“After which from Barcelona onwards, I feel we corrected for lots of it and had many, many point-scoring races. Clearly, a few highlights, major spotlight being Silverstone and Barcelona, I feel Gabi in Budapest, the group efficiency in Austria, and some extra. Austin was actually good too.

“Final weekend, clearly, was very unlucky. However so I feel on the finish of the day, on stability, most likely it is what we needed, what we aimed for.”

The Sauber title is ready to vanish following plans to turn into the Audi works group subsequent yr. Hulkenberg paid tribute to the legendary group.

“I imply, sure, in a means. However on the identical time, nothing on this world is perpetually. I feel it is simply the legacy they depart behind.

“All of the completely different instances in F1. How lengthy the group has been round as a personal group. I feel it’s essential to acknowledge that.

“Simply give them large credit score and respect for what they’ve achieved and survived.”

Photographs from Abu Dhabi GP – Thursday

Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing