Nico Hulkenberg finally ends F1 drought: 'It's been a long time coming'

Nico Hulkenberg rightly stated, "it's been a long time coming" after finally securing his maiden F1 podium at the 239th time of asking.

Hulkenberg has had near-misses in the past, and it has long appeared as if he would never finish in the top three, but from 19th on the Silverstone grid, and through the chaos that unfolded in a rain-hit British Grand Prix, the 37-year-old finished third behind a McLaren one-two spearheaded by Lando Norris.

"We have it in us, I have it in me somewhere," said Stake driver Hulkenberg as he also ended the Sauber organisation's 13-year wait for a podium.

"It's pretty surreal, to be honest. Not sure how it all happened, but obviously crazy conditions, mixed conditions. It was a survival fight for a lot of the race.

"I think we were really on it. The right calls, the right tyres at the right moment, made no mistakes. Quite incredible."

As the rain abated and the track started to dry, it seemed as if Hulkenberg would lose third to Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton. But the seven-time F1 champion, who was a second behind at one point, suffered on worn inters and dropped back to 2.8s.

After pitting for slicks a lap ahead of Hulkenberg, even then Hamilton was unable to make any inroads.

"I was in denial until probably the last pit stop, and then when I heard we gapped Lewis quite a bit with the one extra lap, I was like, this is good, this is some breathing space," said Hulkenberg.

"But then he was catching quite quickly. The pressure was there. It was an intense race. But like I said, we didn't crack, no mistakes. Obviously, I'm really, really happy with that. Fantastic!"

Hulkenberg's performance denied Hamilton a 13th successive podium at Silverstone. The German driver insisted this was his time.

"I was thinking that he's going to give it his all here, in front of his home crowd," said Hulkenberg. "And I was like, sorry guys, but it's also my day. I got to stick my neck out.

"Super happy. And thank you very much for the great energy and support here every year."