Former Haas F1 team principal Guenther Steiner has made a bold prediction regarding Kick Sauber F1 driver Nico Hulkenberg’s chances of securing another podium finish in his career. Hulkenberg recently ended his long-standing podium drought at the British Grand Prix, showcasing an impressive performance from P19 to P3 at Silverstone.
Prior to his podium finish, Hulkenberg held the record for the most starts in F1 without a podium to his name. However, Steiner believes that this feat might be a one-off for the German driver. Speaking on the Red Flags podcast, Steiner expressed his skepticism about Hulkenberg’s future podium prospects, citing Audi’s lack of experience in Formula 1 as a major hindrance.
Steiner, who previously worked with Hulkenberg during their time at Haas in 2023, emphasized the challenges that Hulkenberg might face with Audi entering the F1 arena with a completely new engine. Despite his admiration for Hulkenberg’s achievement at Silverstone, Steiner doubts the likelihood of a repeat performance in the future.
Reflecting on his podium finish at Silverstone, Hulkenberg took to Instagram to express his gratitude towards his supporters and well-wishers. The German driver acknowledged the overwhelming response he received following his breakthrough moment and thanked everyone for their love and positivity.
Hulkenberg’s recent success on the track has been notable, outscoring top drivers like Max Verstappen in the last four races and amassing a total of 37 points, with a significant portion earned in the past four race weekends thanks to Sauber’s upgraded car.
As Hulkenberg continues to impress with his performances, the question remains whether he can defy Steiner’s prediction and secure another podium finish in the future. Only time will tell if the German driver can overcome the challenges ahead and add more podium finishes to his racing legacy.