“It’s been a long time coming, hasn’t it?” Nico Hülkenberg grinned on Sunday afternoon, still trying to wrap his head around what had just happened. After 239 Grand Prix and 15 years in Formula 1, the German finally—finally—found himself spraying champagne on the Silverstone podium.

And what a race to do it. Starting 19th in slippery, treacherous conditions, Hülkenberg climbed up the order with the kind of strategic awareness and raw racecraft that’s defined his journeyman career. There were tyre gambles, a dicey defence against a seven-time world champion, and even a surreal radio moment where he asked, “Wait, are we actually P3?” Yes, Nico. You are.

This wasn’t a chaotic, freakish podium either. This was well-earned. With Kick Sauber on the rise and Hülkenberg in career-best form at 37, the moment had all the makings of a fan-favourite fairytale—topped off by the sight of him denying Lewis Hamilton a home podium and saying, “Sorry guys – it’s also my day!”

So in honour of the longest road to the top step (well, third step), here are the 10 longest waits for an F1 podium—measured by race starts before a driver first heard the German national anthem from somewhere other than the pit wall:

10. Felipe Massa – 58 starts

First podium: 2006 European GP (P3)

Team: Ferrari

It’s easy to forget just how long Massa waited before landing a top-three. After a bumpy start with Sauber and some rough Ferrari bedding-in, he finally cracked the podium at the Nürburgring—just months before grabbing his first win. From there, he nearly became world champion in 2008. Nearly.

9. Gianni Morbidelli – 62 starts

First podium: 1995 Australian GP (P3)

Team: Footwork-Hart

A classic ‘right place, right time’ story. With just eight finishers in a bonkers season-closer, Morbidelli (pictured rightmost) brought his Footwork home in third and snagged what would be his only career podium. In true 90s F1 fashion, it was equal parts chaos and grit.

8. Esteban Ocon – 66 starts

First podium: 2020 Sakhir GP (P2)

Team: Renault

While most remember the race for George Russell’s heartbreak in a borrowed Mercedes, Ocon played the long game and emerged with a career-first P2. He’d been steady, dependable—and finally, the cards fell his way.

7. Pedro de la Rosa – 67 starts

First podium: 2006 Hungarian GP (P2)

Team: McLaren

One of F1’s ultimate test driver veterans, de la Rosa (pictured left) seized his moment when Montoya bailed mid-season. After years of Friday sessions and press quotes, he finally earned a McLaren seat and delivered in a rain-hit Hungary GP. Better late than never.

6. Jenson Button – 69 starts

First podium: 2004 Malaysian GP (P3)

Team: BAR-Honda

Once dubbed the golden boy of British F1, Button’s early years were messy—frequent team changes, mixed results, and plenty of criticism. But when BAR finally gave him a decent package, he showed what he could do. That first podium? Just the start of a very long payoff arc.

5. Johnny Herbert – 70 starts

First podium: 1995 Spanish GP (P3)

Team: Benetton-Renault

Herbert’s early career was marred by a near-career-ending crash in F3000, but he battled back—first into F1, and then finally onto the podium. In a Benetton still very much Schumacher’s team, Herbert (pictured left) grabbed his opportunity and never looked back.

4. Mika Salo – 72 starts

First podium: 1999 German GP (P2)

Team: Ferrari (sub for Schumacher)

After years in backmarker machinery, Salo finally got a shot when Schumacher broke his leg. His maiden podium came while subbing in—though he was infamously ordered to give up the win to Irvine. Still, it was redemption after years of midfield slog.

3. Martin Brundle – 85 starts

First podium: 1992 French GP (P3)

Team: Benetton-Ford

Brundle had pace, brains, and the misfortune of driving in an era when reliability was a gamble. Eight seasons and 85 starts later, he finally stood on the podium—alongside a young teammate named Michael Schumacher. Fittingly, Brundle now interviews drivers faster than he ever was.

2. Carlos Sainz – 101 starts

First podium: 2019 Brazilian GP (P3, promoted post-race)

Team: McLaren

The wait stung. So did not even being on the podium when he was awarded it. But that didn’t stop the McLaren garage from celebrating like mad after Hamilton’s penalty bumped Carlos up to P3. It was a breakthrough moment, and one that eventually led to a Ferrari call-up.

1. Nico Hülkenberg – 239 starts

First podium: 2025 British GP (P3)

Team: Kick Sauber

The undisputed king of patience. No other driver has waited this long for their first podium—not even close. Hülkenberg came into F1 in 2010, took a pole in his debut season, and somehow spent the next 15 years just shy of the top three. Fourth place became a meme. But at Silverstone 2025, it all finally came together. Tyre calls, overtakes, and nerveless defending against Lewis Hamilton—Hülkenberg didn’t luck into P3. He fought for it. And this time, F1 gave him his due.