'Everything seemed to click' for Hulkenberg in Barcelona

Nico Hulkenberg says everything seemed to click for him in the Spanish Grand Prix as he went from 16th on the grid to finish fifth and secure a season-best result for Sauber.

Sauber brought an upgrade to Barcelona, with a new floor and sidepods being introduced across both cars. Gabriel Bortoleto took advantage of it to secure a strong 12th on the grid but Hulkenberg instantly bounced back from a frustrating Q1 exit to run in the fight for points from the opening lap and cross the line in sixth place, being promoted to fifth by Max Verstappen’s time penalty.

“It was a great race, just one of those races where everything seemed to click and work out,” Hulkenberg said. “Beautiful when it happens, it doesn't happen that often unfortunately, but [in Spain] it did.

"I think having all these new tires, being out in Q1, actually was really useful and helpful. And then on the other hand, from 16th to have the start in Lap 1 that I had kind of immediately reset the race and then put us into the fight for a good result.

“Obviously the late safety car and then having another set of softs did the rest of it. So very happy and obviously we take that. But, you know, that's just if you bring updates and performance that works, you can help yourself.”

Hulkenberg restarted in seventh place after the safety car but with new softs he was able to overtake Lewis Hamilton, bettering his previous best result this year of seventh in Australia.

“He was on used – he only had a used soft left. That's what you see even though he's in a Ferrari with how important and how powerful the tires are. He was just sliding around a lot and I had new boots which made all the difference.

“I was pretty upset about how quali happened. Obviously in hindsight it was a good thing, with having all new tires, but obviously you never know, you never guarantee the Lap 1 and the start that I had. But somehow I wanted to make things right and it worked out.”