Silverstone, United Kingdom:
What should have been a universally celebrated moment at Silverstone has turned controversial, as McLaren duo Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were criticised for ignoring Nico Hülkenberg during the podium ceremony at the 2025 British Grand Prix. The 36-year-old German driver achieved a career-first Formula 1 podium after 13 years and 200+ starts, but was allegedly sidelined by the front-running McLaren pair during celebrations.
Norris Takes Emotional Victory at Home:
Lando Norris claimed a spectacular and emotional home win at Silverstone on Sunday, mastering a rain-hit, safety car-marred race to take the chequered flag. It was the British driver’s fourth Grand Prix victory of the 2025 season and his first-ever win at the iconic circuit in front of a roaring home crowd.
McLaren secured a dominant 1–2 finish, with teammate Oscar Piastri finishing second. The duo celebrated the team’s result enthusiastically, but the post-race moment soon turned into a social media storm for all the wrong reasons.
Hülkenberg’s Historic Podium Overshadowed:
Nico Hülkenberg, driving for Sauber, pulled off one of the most dramatic performances of the race, finishing third and securing his first-ever Formula 1 podium. The veteran German had started from 19th on the grid and used clever tyre strategy and driving precision in the wet to capitalise on the chaos ahead.
His third-place finish was hailed as a “miracle moment” by commentators, especially as he holds the record for most F1 starts without a podium until now. However, fans and pundits noticed that during the podium celebration, both Norris and Piastri shared hugs and exchanged gestures, seemingly failing to acknowledge Hülkenberg’s milestone.
Backlash Over Podium Conduct:
they didn’t spray nico.
oscar looked at lando then looked at his team and sprayed them first instead. lando just won his home gp?vibes just felt off pic.twitter.com/6dqvQ4FMvX
— sam¹ ✨💙🧡 @ silverstone (@unleashthemax) July 6, 2025
The moment didn’t go unnoticed. Several fans online branded Norris and Piastri’s behaviour as “selfish” and “disrespectful,” pointing out that Hülkenberg’s achievement deserved equal recognition. The criticism intensified as videos of the incident circulated, showing the McLaren pair engaging only with each other, while Hülkenberg stood to the side with his trophy.
While it’s unclear whether the snub was intentional, many feel that the celebration lacked basic sportsmanship, especially given the historic nature of Hülkenberg’s podium.
Piastri’s Penalty Adds Drama:
Oscar Piastri’s second-place finish also came with controversy. He received a 10-second time penalty for allegedly braking behind the safety car, a move he called “unfair” in the post-race interviews. Despite the penalty, he maintained second place due to a strong pace throughout the race.
The tense on-track dynamic between the McLaren teammates may have also contributed to the emotionally charged post-race celebrations.
Also Read: India Pass Edgbaston Test, Will Team India Be Able To Conquer The Home Of Cricket?
Hülkenberg’s Humble Response:
In contrast, Nico Hülkenberg maintained grace and composure, expressing his joy and disbelief during the post-race press conference. “It’s surreal,” he said. “Everything just came together today. The calls, the tyres, the timing everything.”
Hülkenberg’s podium trophy, uniquely designed out of LEGO bricks by event sponsor LEGO Group, became a fan-favourite symbol. He joked that his daughter would be most excited about it.
