Another month came and went in a flash. We are well into the second half of 2025, and it will all be over soon. Most series are in the second half of their seasons. A few series are much closer to the end than the start. Some hardware will be awarded soon enough. The calendar will be thinning out.
It is a proper time to look back. Perhaps we haven't appreciated what we have seen this year. Let's take a breather to do that. Let's first recognize a result that was a long-time coming.
Nico Hülkenberg Appreciation Post
The standout moment of the month of July will be Nico Hülkenberg's third place finish in the British Grand Prix from Silverstone. It was a day most of us likely were resigned to admit would never come. Hülkenberg had made 239 starts and was driving for Sauber. A podium finish would not come easy.
Then came the greatest day of his Formula One career.
From 19th on the grid, Hülkenberg played the strategy correctly through the changing conditions while making a few strong moves to remain at the front. In the closing laps, Hülkenberg had a charging Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton challenging for the final place on the podium. When the checkered flag waved, the German was the third to see it, and history was made. A streak was over. Justification was reached.
The history book was set to capture Hülkenberg as one of the most peculiar careers in Formula One history. A driver who held on for over 200 races but never once could finish in the top three despite plenty of exceptional results and flashes of brilliance. One podium finish can change an entire chapter.
I remember when Nico Hülkenberg thrashed the A1GP competition and the heir apparent to Michael Schumacher was found. Hülkenberg was expected to do great things. He would be inevitable in Formula One. A Formula Three Euro Series and GP2 Series champions followed. Despite all the junior series success, the demand was not as great as one would have thought when it was time to move to Formula One. He went to Williams, and that first step locked Hülkenberg onto a permanent path in the midfield.
After a year at Williams with a pole position in the wet at Interlagos, Hülkenberg ended up as Force India's reserve driver in 2011 before getting the race seat in 2012. He bounced to Sauber for a year before returning to Force India for two more years. His only factory ride was with Renault for three seasons. Five years ago, Hülkenberg was out of Formula One.
The fact Hülkenberg is still around is remarkable. Formula One had moved on come 2020. The pandemic and a pair of positive COVID test for each Sergio Pérez and Lance Stroll led to a few races for Racing Point. When Racing Point became Aston Martin, Hülkenberg remained on the books but did not race in 2021. In 2022, he was back for two races when Sebastian Vettel was sidelined due to COVID. Somehow, five races over a three-season period led to a full-time role at Haas. A combined 50 points over two seasons led to a return to Sauber as Hülkenberg was hired proactively ahead of Audi taking over the program in 2026.
He could have had a win 39 races into his career. Hülkenberg was in prime position in the 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix before he lost the car under braking in the wet and collided with Lewis Hamilton. Hülkenberg continued, but damaged and with a penalty to serve, which knocked him down to fifth. How different would things be if that one moment had gone differently nearly 13 years ago? We probably aren't acknowledging Nico Hülkenberg at the end of July 2025, at least not for this reason.
It has been a good career. Considering all the teams he has raced for, Hülkenberg has finished in the points in 47.083% of his starts. He has been about to stick around for over 240 races. Plenty of other drivers have come and gone. Timo Glock was a GP2 champion. He didn't reach 100 grand prix. Jean-Éric Vergne made it three seasons. Esteban Gutiérrez was a promising young driver, and he only had three seasons where he scored points in one race. There is something to be said for longevity and being able to keep a ride.
We haven't even mentioned that Hülkenberg has won the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Paired with Nick Tandy and Earl Bamber, Hülkenberg got a one-off opportunity with Porsche in 2015, and the off weeks fell at the right time to allow him to run at Le Mans. In the third Porsche, Hülkenberg significantly contributed to the manufacturers' first Le Mans victory in 17 years. He has a moment greater than 75% of the drivers he has competed against in Formula One, including some who have won a grand prix.
Hülkenberg will likely hit 250 starts this season. He would become just the 13th driver to reach that milestone. Everyone to hit it has won a grand prix. We know he will get the 2026 season with Audi. Come 2027, he will turn 40 years old.
Will he be a man content with what he has accomplished or will he go for more? Will the sports car success from over a decade before lead to a desire to continue competing in a different discipline?
Highlights of 2025
Hülkenberg's podium finish will be one of the moments of the year, if not the moment of the year when 2025 is over. Seven months have been completed. We know who has been the best this season, and what has stood out. It is proper to give them their due before the season even ends.
Racers:
Álex Palou has won eight IndyCar races, including the Indianapolis 500. It is the most victories in an IndyCar season since 2007. Palou has a chance to clinch a championship with multiple races to spare since 2002.
Marc Márquez has new life. In his first year on a factory Ducati, Márquez has won eight of 12 grand prix. He has won 11 of 12 sprint races. At the summer break and with ten races remaining, Marquez has a 120-point lead over his brother Álex. Francesco Bagnaia is 168 points back. Marco Bezzecchi is 225 points back in fourth. This Renaissance has been marvelous to watch.
In 2026, Márquez could have some competition as Toprak Razgatlioglu has signed to race for Pramac Racing Yamaha. In World Superbike, Razgatlioglu has won 15 of 24 races. He has finished runner-up five times. His championship lead is a little thinner. Only 26 points separate the Turkish rider from Nicolò Bulega, but Razgatlioglu will be a menace to stop as he is on his way to his third World Superbike championship.
Race:
Moto3 has had a few sensational races that ended with staggering finishes. At Qatar, four riders were in the lead group coming to the checkered flag. At the line, Ángel Piqueras nipped Taiyo Furusato at the line by 0.009 seconds. Ryusei Yamanaka was 0.042 seconds back and Joel Kelso was fourth, 0.097 seconds short of victory. At Mugello, Máximo Quiles scored his first career victory in his fourth career start. Quiles beat Álvaro Carpe to the line by 0.006 seconds. Dennis Foggia was 0.066 seconds back in third. José Antoio Rueda was a distant fourth, 0.102 seconds off Quiles.
NASCAR's Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend ended with a 87-lap run to the checkered flag and six different drivers led during that span. William Byron had been the best cars all race, but with six laps remaining, Ross Chastain took the lead despite starting 40th after he had an accident in practice. Chastain held on for victory in what was a lively race for the entire four-and-a-half hours.
Moment:
It will be pretty tough to top Hülkenberg's podium finish, but Robert Kubica winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans will be up there. Over the last six years, we have continued to be impressed with Kubica as he returned to Formula One and scored a point. He has won championships in LMP2 competition. A Le Mans victory cements his legacy beyond one accident that altered his career.
But before that, who could forget Robert Shwartzman's pole position at the Indianapolis 500? Everyone was penciling in Prema for the last row shootout. A good number of people likely thought one of Prema's two cars would be bumped from the race. What did we see? Each session, Shwartzman went a little quicker. An early qualifying draw helped him snag a surprise Fast 12 spot. Then he was fast enough to make the Fast 6. In the final round, Shwartzman completed his fastest run of the month and the rookie with a new team had pole position for their Indianapolis debuts.
Achievement:
The IndyCar season isn't over yet, but Álex Palou's year has been astonishing. He has the most victories in a season since reunification. There is a chance he could become the fourth driver to win at least nine races in a season. Tying the all-time record of ten is in play. If he wins out, he will set the single-season record, one most never expected to be challenged.
The NASCAR season isn't over yet, but Shane van Gisbergen has already tied the Cup Series record for most victories in a rookie season. Van Gisbergen has won three times at Mexico City, Chicago and Sonoma. He joined Tony Stewart and Jimmie Johnson as the only rookies to win three times in a season, and van Gisbergen's season is not over yet. Watkins Glen comes up later this month and the Charlotte roval will be in October. With Daytona and Talladega out there, he could win an oval. That fourth victory, and sole possession of the record, is very much in play.
Marc Márquez has hit 100 pole positions in grand prix racing. Márquez was already the record-holder, but to hit the century mark is a notable achievement, even for one of the all-time greats.
August Preview
What is the event of note in August?
It doesn't have one of those world-renowned endurance races. Formula One is taking off most of the month. MotoGP is returning. IndyCar will be over at the end of the month. The Southern 500 is only in August because Labor Day is September 1. It is fine. There will be plenty of series going on. But as for that one thing, I am not sure it is quite there.
The Knoxville Nationals! That is held in August, the 9th to be specific. Kyle Larson has won it three of the last four years. Donny Schatz remains one victory away from tying Steve Kinsey’s record of 12.
Other events of note in August:
Three IndyCar races and then it is over.
The NASCAR regular season will be over.
Formula One has its summer break after a race in Hungary.
MotoGP will be back and eventually return to Hungary.
Super GT will be trying a new sprint race format at Fuji.
The World Rally Championship will be in Finland and Paraguay.
