Nico Hulkenberg secured his first podium finish at Monza after a daring strategy move paid off on a wet and soggy day in Italy. The German driver, who qualified 19th on the grid, resisted the temptation to switch to slick tyres at the start of the race, opting instead for intermediates that proved to be more than capable of handling the wet conditions.
However, as the track began to dry out, Hulkenberg made a brilliant call to pit for fresh intermediates on lap nine, overruling his team’s advice to stick with slicks. This move allowed him to maintain his position and eventually make a crucial pass on the leaders when they pitted for slicks.
Despite heavy rain returning to the track later in the race, Hulkenberg remained focused and made a series of bold moves to climb the order. His cool-headed approach paid off when he passed Lewis Hamilton’s car at Club corner, before going on to take third place behind Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc.
Hulkenberg’s impressive performance was made possible by his seamless communication with his team, particularly engineer Stephen Petrik. The driver’s ability to trust his instincts and make key calls under pressure ultimately sealed his podium finish, a result that has sparked widespread praise from fans and pundits alike.
The 239th attempt at a podium for Hulkenberg proved to be the culmination of a masterclass in strategy and driving, one that will go down in history as one of the greatest performances of his F1 career.
Source: https://www.racefans.net/2025/07/08/hulkenberg-overruled-race-engineer-twice-in-first-nine-laps-on-way-to-podium