Hulkenberg believes Kick Sauber now ‘serious competitor’ in midfield after upgrades

Nico Hulkenberg is confident that Kick Sauber are now a “serious competitor” in the midfield fight, with the team continuing to gain “momentum” since first introducing significant upgrades back at Round 9 in Spain.

While Hulkenberg ended the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in P7, the squad then suffered a long run without points – which was brought to an end when the German driver took an impressive P5 in Barcelona.

The team have gone on to claim a top-10 finish at every race since, including a double points result for Hulkenberg and team mate Gabriel Bortoleto in Austria before Hulkenberg clinched a stunning P3 one week later at Silverstone, marking his long-awaited first podium in F1.

After the race, Hulkenberg was quizzed on how much more might be possible with the C45 car, leading the 37-year-old to joke in response: “You want even more? Jesus!

“I think that's pretty good for starters today. If we had a dry race, it would have been a very different day and outcome for us.”

Despite acknowledging that the changing weather conditions may have played a hand in his result at the British Grand Prix, Hulkenberg also praised Kick Sauber for continuing to progress across recent races, putting them at the heart of the midfield battle.

“Whilst we've made some really good improvements since Barcelona, today [at Silverstone] is obviously circumstantial, and the conditions made this race and this result possible,” the veteran driver said.

“But I feel in the midfield fight we've definitely gained some momentum, and we are a serious competitor there. That's where our fight is, but it's always about maximising every race, every weekend, and just trying to do well.”

Hulkenberg’s rostrum at Silverstone has helped Kick Sauber to climb up to P6 in the Teams’ Championship on 41 points, putting them just 18 points adrift of Williams in P5.