Sauber team principal Jonathan Wheatley described Nico Fulkenberg’s podium performance at the British Grand Prix as one of the best drives he’s ever seen.
Hulkenberg started in 19th place, but he climbed the field with a surprising amount of wetness and ran to third place. The final pit stop on the slick tires then opened a comfortable gap for Lewis Hamilton, keeping the Ferrari driver behind for more than five seconds. Wheatley, who joined Sauber from Red Bull earlier this year, says it ranks one of the best drives he has seen as Halkenberg finally took the podium after the 239 race began.
“Nico drove a standout race,” Wheatley said. “One of the best we’ve seen in Silverstone. One of the best drivers we’ve ever seen. It seems incredible that we’re all celebrating the podium.
“He showed his class. He didn’t get the wheel wrong. And the team made all the right decisions in terms of strategy. He went out when we needed to go outside. And then he switched to the medium at the right time. I’m very, very proud of him.
“I can’t speak for anyone other than myself (but) I’ve seen him as an extraordinary talent for a very long time, and I think I’m consistent with saying that for everyone here. He seemed incredible if he’d never achieved the podium in his career.
“I think Nico has shown that he can do. Given the right race car, given the right situation, I think he can provide it. He can definitely win the race.”
Wheatley believes that the key to the podium is the timing of both the initial first pit stop and switch to the slick of the new intermediate.
“We were looking at the weather going forward. I think that’s what everyone did. And I think Nico felt his intermediate just had it. And we thought the same thing.
“And given Lewis’ pace, I think the other important decision was when it was then boxed into medium tires. We kept the powder drying. We didn’t make it in the first place. We looked very carefully at what the other drivers did.
