By Ritangshu Bhattacharya,
In my 15 years of being a television journey and watching an limitless parade of celebrities within the newsroom, I’ve solely been starstruck on. It wasn’t for an actor, a cricketer or any celeb who would in any other case make heads turns in India.
It was with nico hlkenberg.
The 12 months was 2011. The Quickest Circus within the World – Components 1 – was lastly coming to city as a part of the inaugural Indian Grand Prix. The German was lined up as a visitor on the sports activities present of the information community I labored for at the moment. Then a Reserve Driver for the ERSTWHILE INDIA Components One Group, HLKENBERG was barely observed by most individuals within the newsroom (whonel saway noticed f1 as a spectacle with spherical and spherical in Circles).
However I used to be on cloud 9. Nico Had Made a Sensational Debut solely a 12 months in the past on observe for the williams F1 staff – Bagging a pole place on the brazilian gp – solely to be unfairly dropped in 2011 for a driver able to pay for his for his for his for his for a driver. Whereas I used to be getting an image clicked with Him, I needed Him Good Luck in Getting Again to the Grid. Hlkenberg smiled and nonchalantly shrugged it off. He knew even then that f1 just isn’t all the time a meritocry.
However hulk – and his followers like me – needn’t have labored. He was again on the grid the subsequent 12 months as a full-time for drive India driver. Again at his favourite stomping floor in brazil, He LED for A lot of the Race – on Course for a Sensational Maiden Victory for Him and the Indian F1 TEAM. Sadly, Tragedy Struck Simply 16 Laps from the Chequred Flag as he Collided with Lewis Hamilton. The dream of a maiden podium – very similar to hlkenberg’s automotive – was left wrecked.
That Stormy Day in Brazil can be the closest hulk got here to a podium – for over a decade.
Over the Subsequent Few Years, The German Driver would have giant-killing stints with underdog groups akin to drive India, saube and renault, however tantalisingly By no means Managed to Stand on the Podium. Progressively, He Constructed Up a Somewhat Unfair Popularity of “Being Good, However Not Actually Nice” – Why the Massive Groups By no means really noticed him as a driveer of a driver.
Ultimately, all of it climaxed with Him Being Left off the Grid in 2020, Forged Apart for the Subsequent Era of Youthful Drivers. His profession left headlined by a raather doubtful file – probably the most profession race begins with no high 3 End.
However future couldn’t be denied. And after a three-year sabbatical, the hulk was again on the grid in 2023, tasked with brings up the straggling haas staff. He delivered on the position with aplomb, placing togetra a string of gritty performances, taking the staff to new heights. This 12 months, He Gave Himself the identical task-drag the picket spoon-wornning kick sauber staff to a level of response. The same old underdog performances adopted, solely underlining the assumption within the paddock that hulk was a outstanding underrated driver, thought one seminly destined by no means to style podium glory.
Till the Heavens Opened Final Sunday at Silvestone – The Non secular Dwelling of Components 1. For a maiden profession podium. However none of his followers dared consider the inconceivable – as he was being quickly chased down by the greenst driver the game has ever seen. Lap by Lap, Lewis Hamilton-Seven-Time World Champion, On Dwelling Turf, Eyeing His Maiden Podium with Ferrari and Intent on Conserving His British His British Gp Podum Streak Alive-Hunted the Hulk Downing, Bringing Again Down Recollections of their notorious 2012 conflict.
However this time, Future couldn’t be denied. Because the laps counted down, hlkenberg defied the treacherous situations to remain forward of the hometown Hero. When the intense inexperienced automotive (what colorwal might be extra becoming for the hulk?) Crossed the checked flag, 1,000,000 followers internationally erupted in pleasure. This Victory Lower Throughout Borders, Ages and Fan Loyalties – in any case it was a Recffication of certainly one of method 1’s largest injustues. Nico hlkenberg had last put the enormous monkey off his again.
As fans-and even drivers up and down the paddock-celebrated the most important feel-good story the game had seen in many years, hlkenberg lastly sipped the champagne that champagne that Had Eluded Him for A Decade and A Half. It is a life lesson that transcends the game itself – if this man didn Bollywood up after 15 years, 238 race begins and two exits from the game, why Shy Ought to You?
And sure, I can now lastly submit that 2011 Image in Delight – Me With the 2025 British GP Podium Finisher, Nico Hlkenberg!
– Ends