Hulkenberg’s Ferrari overtake in Spain a ‘pinch yourself’ moment for Kick Sauber as they eye ‘springboard’ effect

Kick Sauber team boss Jonathan Wheatley is optimistic that Nico Hulkenberg's impressive fifth-place finish at the Spanish Grand Prix will serve as a "springboard" for greater success this season. Hulkenberg, starting from a challenging grid position, skillfully navigated his way into the points, making excellent use of Sauber's updated package. The German driver capitalized on a late Safety Car, utilizing a fresh set of soft tires – what he called his "golden ticket" – to overtake Lewis Hamilton's Ferrari for P6 and subsequently gain another position due to Max Verstappen's penalty. Wheatley, who has been at the helm for only a few months, expressed immense satisfaction, stating it was the first time he felt the team had a competitive racing car. He highlighted the significance of overtaking two Ferraris on pace, describing it as a "pinch yourself moment." This result propelled Sauber to eighth in the Teams' standings, surpassing Aston Martin and Alpine, and remarkably, quadrupled their points tally from the entire 2024 season. Wheatley emphasized the morale boost this achievement brings to the hardworking and passionate team, hoping to build on this momentum and continue their trajectory towards their desired goals. He believes Barcelona, historically a true test of a car's performance, indicates that Sauber now possesses a package capable of consistently challenging for points.