Nico Furkenberg was praised by his fellow rivals as “among the best drivers on the grid” after claiming an unimaginable maiden podium on the British Grand Prix.
Requested for the 239th time, Hulkenberg was on the Formulation 1 podium for the primary time after a unbelievable drive to shock third place within the chaotic and moist British Grand Prix at Silverstone.
The 37-year-old German groundbreaking podium has attracted reward from his fellow drivers, with championship chief Oscar Piastri saying:
Lewis Hamilton, overwhelmed by Halkenberg as he’s seven-time world champion, ended his superb podium streak at house.
“Third place was felt inside attain, however Nico was credited on his first podium and he drove a robust race,” Hamilton mentioned.
4-time world champion Max Verstappen commented: “It was actually good to see, as a result of if you’ve been in Formulation 1 for a very long time and you have not been on the rostrum and some instances you are so shut, I believe that is fairly particular to him.”
Nico Halkenberg
In the meantime, Fernando Alonso feels that Hulkenberg must be thought of among the many greatest drivers on the F1 grid.
“It is his first podium, so I am very pleased for him,” the two-time world champion mentioned.
“I hope he is having fun with right this moment as a result of he is among the best drivers on the grid and I did not have the prospect to have a correct automotive beneath it, so yeah, I am so actually pleased for him.”
Williams’ Carlos Signal believes Halkenberg is “all the time the highest 5 driver.”
“Congratulations – he should have raced very solidly to be there in P3,” the Spaniard added. “To be sincere, for me, the truth that folks saved cursing him, that he did not have a podium, was fully irrelevant to me.
“For me, he was all the time the highest 5 driver on the grid each time he joined Formulation 1. His degree of expertise and racial execution is unimaginable.”
Gabriel Boltreto was delighted along with his Sauber teammate.
“Congratulations to Nico! It makes plenty of sense to see him preventing for the rostrum and reaching this consequence through the years in Formulation 1,” he mentioned.
“He’s the perfect teammate I’ve ever labored with, each as a driver and as an individual — and he positively deserves this second. I am actually pleased with him.”
Piastri teased Halkenberg after the race by asking how he felt in regards to the first podium trophy made with Lego.
“I really like Lego!” Hulkenberg laughed in response. “That is tremendous. My daughter can play with it too.
“You all the time have to take a look at the intense facet. However as you already know, a little bit of silver and gold would have been good, however I do not complain.”
