โApparently you canโt brake behind the safety car any more. I did it for five laps before that.โ
Hulkenbergโs achievement also had the tears flowing, the German veteran making up 16 places to shed an unwanted record of the most races without a podium in Formula 1 history.
โI donโt think I can comprehend what weโve just done,โ said the stunned German before wild celebrations with his teammates.
โIt feels good. Itโs been a long time coming, hasnโt it? But I always knew we had it in us, I have it in me, somewhere.โ
Defending champion Max Verstappen started on pole but ended up fifth after spinning from second at a safety-car restart and briefly dropping to 10th.
Pierre Gasly was sixth for Alpine, Lance Stroll seventh for Aston Martin and Alex Albon eighth for Williams.
Fernando Alonso gave Aston Martin a double points finish in ninth at their home race and George Russell bagged the final point for Mercedes.
AP, Reuters
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