Formula 1 not only celebrates great moments on the track, but also beyond, and nobody embodies this comrade better than Max Verstappen. According to Nico Hülkenberg, who was on stage for the first time on July 6, 2025, during the Grand Prix of Great Britain in Silverstone, the four-time world champion invited his friend and colleague for a small party in a restaurant near his birthplace Emmerich on the Rhine to celebrate the long-awaited success. Verstappens Gesto, which is on the X with the slogan “behave respectfully as Verstappen”, emphasizes the close friendship between the two drivers and shows how the Formula 1 community and respect for it live, even in a competitive sport.
Hülkenberg, who finally reached third place after 239 races, wrote History in Silverstone. The 37-year-old, who drives for a clean slate, used the rainchaos to storm the stage from starting place 19 and even kept record champion Lewis Hamilton behind him. The international press, includingThe GuardianinGazzetta dello Sport, praised his “heroic” performance, while team boss Jonathan Wheatley described it as “the most long -awaited stage in the history of Formula 1”. But while Lando Norris and Oscar Piatri celebrated their double victory at McLaren, the award ceremony caused controversy. Fans on X, such as @mv33racing, criticized the McLaren drivers who largely ignored Hülkenberg in the champagne shower, which ruined the mood. Verstappen, on the other hand, showed great: he congratulated Hülkenberg via the radio, stormed at him in the Parc Fermé and let his private jet wait to fly back to Monaco.
The celebration in Emmerich, just a few kilometers from Verstappens Dutch home country, was a warm continuation of the moment. According to reports on X (@Skysportformel1), Verstappen organized an intimate round in a local restaurant, where Hülkenberg, his wife Eglė Ruškytė and good friends came together. Verstappen, who himself became only fifth in Silverstone, was deeply impressed by Hülkenberg’s performance: “If someone waits so long and was so close, it is something special,” he said loudlyop n-tv.de. The two have known each other since their race, and Hülkenberg emphasized in oneGQ-Podcast from 2020 Verstappens “Work Hard, Play Hard” mentality, which is also reflected in this gesture. “Max is authentic and lives on the limit, both on and off the job,” he said at the time.
The invitation was more than a party; It was a symbol of respect and friendship in Formula 1. Fans of X, such as @adrianmcf, praised that he had not stolen Hülkenberg, but put him in the spotlight, in contrast to the McLaren drivers, whose behavior was criticized as “disrespectful”. Hülkenberg himself took the controversy: “It felt great, I still knew how to celebrate,” he said grinningAt Motorsport-Total. His relief was noticeable after years of frustration in teams such as Haas and Renault, where Panelkansen in Hockenheim 2019 or Monaco were wiped out by bad luck or strategic errors.
Clean, which will come out as an Audi team in 2026, sees good signs in Hülkenberg’s performance. His consistency in the 2025 season, with top 10 places in Australia, Austria and Singapore, shows his potential for the future. Verstappen, who struggled with Red Bull in Silverstone with tire problems, emphasized: “Nico did not need this stage as a quality mark. He was always a pot racer.” Carlos Sainz, his former teammate, also praised Hülkenberg’s “Incredible Race” (ESPN ).
The celebration in Emmerich, accompanied by Champagne-this time sponsored by Aston Martin and Mercedes, since then without alcohol-was a moment of companionship that hit the Formula 1 community. While the DCU withSupermanAnd the Formula 1 with new teams such as Cadillac for 2026 are in the spotlight, Verstappens Gesture shows what sport makes: respect and humanity. Hülkenberg’s stage and the subsequent celebration with Verstappen remain a symbol that not only counts the stopwatch in Formula 1, but also the connection between the drivers.
