Pre Race
Pushing at Spa!
We’re still buzzing after seeing our Admin By Request ambassador Nico Hulkenberg score his first-ever Formula 1 podium at Silverstone just three weeks ago. This weekend, the German is back in action and ready for another shot as the show moves on to the legendary Spa-Francorchamps.
It’s the first round of the final double header before the summer break – and with the third Sprint event of the season on the schedule, the focus is on making the most of every opportunity to gain positions and score points!
“Silverstone was unforgettable, and the joy that race brought to the team will stay with us. But now, our focus shifts to the races ahead. Spa is a true classic on the calendar: fast, challenging, and always unpredictable when it comes to weather,” said Nico Hulkenberg.
“With this being a Sprint weekend, it’s going to be a busy few days for us. We’ve made some solid progress recently, and we need to keep that momentum going to stay ahead of our main rivals. If we put in the work day by day, I believe we can be right in the mix again this weekend.”
Saturday’s Sprint Race will go green at 12:00 (CEST), followed by Qualifying for the main event. Sunday’s 44-lap Belgian Grand Prix kicks off at 15:00.
Want to follow the action live? Catch every session on the official Formula 1 app.
Spa Facts:
- Originally built in 1921, the 14.9 km layout included public roads connecting the towns of Francorchamps, Malmedy, and Stavelot. Since 1979, Spa-Francorchamps has been a permanent circuit – and although today’s 7 km version is only half the length of the original, it remains the longest track on the calendar.
- While Lewis Hamilton holds the record for the most pole positions at Spa, Michael Schumacher is the most successful driver at the Belgian circuit – with six victories to his name.
- The fastest lap ever recorded in an F1 car during a race at Spa? That title goes to Sergio Perez, who flew around the circuit in just 1:44.701 during the 2024 edition of the Belgian Grand Prix.
Qualifying
Challenging Saturday at Spa-Francorchamps for Nico Hulkenberg, who finished 18th in the Sprint Race – stuck in a train of cars – and managed to reach Q2 and secure P14 on the grid for Sunday’s Grand Prix. As the driver who has gained the most positions this season, the German Formula 1 icon and KICK Sauber driver is determined to give it a biiiiig push when the lights go out tomorrow!
“Qualifying didn’t quite go our way today – I was lacking a bit too much on the straights, and without a proper tow, we left a couple of tenths on the table, which made the difference in the end. On the positive side, the car felt much better today compared to Friday. We already made a step forward in the Sprint this morning, which gave me more confidence heading into qualifying,” says Nico Hulkenberg.
“Sprint weekends are always a bit of a challenge – limited track time, and if you’re out early in SQ1, you miss out on valuable laps. We approached the Sprint more like an extended practice session: with the data we gathered we made solid progress and I found a better rhythm on this particular track layout. Now let’s see what the race brings.”
Big push tomorrow, Nico! We’ll be ready to cheer you on when the Belgian Grand Prix goes green at 15:00 (CET).
Want to follow the race live? Catch it on the official Formula 1 TV app.
Race Day
“Once again, we were competitive”
A quick recap from the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps, where Nico Hulkenberg experienced quite a race that started in wet conditions and ended in dry. The German started 14th and was one of the first drivers to switch to slicks, which rewarded him with a big jump into the points in P9.
Unfortunately, Nico had to make an extra pit stop, which cost him positions, and even though strong pace allowed the KICK Sauber driver to make up ground, he ran out of laps and finished 12th in a very tight midfield.
“Missing out on points at the end by just a second is obviously disappointing. We had to make a second stop with around 11 laps to go – my front tyres were dropping off significantly, and I was struggling with front locking and understeer. Staying out wasn’t really an option, so we opted for the stop and tried to fight back, but unfortunately it didn’t quite work out,” Nico Hulkenberg explains.
“That said, our pace was decent and we made progress. Gabi picked up some valuable points, which is important for the Constructors’ standings. Once again, we showed we’re competitive in the midfield, and that’s a positive takeaway as we head to Budapest next weekend.”
Well fought, Nico. We’re ready for more action as the Hungarian Grand Prix kicks off already this weekend at the Hungaroring.
📸 Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber
