F1 News: Nico Hulkenberg Defends Awkward Zero Podium Finish Record

Haas F1 driver Nico Hulkenberg has spoken out on his awkward record of being the driver with the most amount of race starts without securing a podium finish.

The German driver has raced in 193 races and although he has no race wins or podium finishes to his name, he has gathered 530 points, 1 pole position, and 2 fastest laps.

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During an interview with Autosport.com, Hulkenberg addresses the record whilst defending the position that he is in. He explained:

"That's stating a fact there.

"Obviously, when you start thinking about it that's a little bit frustrating. Because every racing driver back then and even now wants to win, ideally. But at the same time, I've never had the car.

"I've had good cars and also had opportunities to deliver the podium, but then for various reasons it never really happened. Never clicked and happened."

Hulkenberg entered is F1 rookie season in 2010 with Williams and since then has driven for Force India, Sauber, Renault, Aston Martin as a reserve driver and then back to a full time seat with Haas in 2023.

He went on to add that he is still in a "happy place" with his racing. He continued:

"But, to be honest, I'm still in a good, happy place – enjoying myself. And if I reflect back, of course there were things I could've done better.

"But I'm not bitter or frustrated about it. I'm in a good place and going to hit I think 200 grands prix later in the season – somewhere around Mexico [in October].

"And whilst not having the podium, I think if I would be so bad I would've not managed to stick around [for] 200 grands prix – so, there must be some good in there too somewhere."

Speaking about the current season in which he is outperforming his teammate Kevin Magnussen, Hulkenberg commented:

"I'm here in the current Formula 1 season, working day-in, day-out and trying to maximise the season.

"I have to maximise what I have. And the opportunities in the past, unfortunately they didn't work. Of course, that was very frustrating at the time, but that is what it is.

"There is that and someone told me the other day there is this statistic 'most races without a podium'.

"But there is another statistic like 'most points without a victory or without a podium in F1' [Hulkenberg has 530, ahead of Sutil's 124]. My point is that statistic speaks for me, actually."