India, July 7 -- Immediately after the British Grand Prix ended, a Mercedes staffer ran across the paddock carrying a large paper bag with the contents in it clinking. A few minutes later, an Aston Martin employee did the same. Both were heading to the end of the pitlane to deliver champagne bottles to Sauber.

It's customary for teams to keep the bubbly for celebration, but Sauber had last achieved a podium finish way back in 2012. Besides, Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg started 17th and 19th, and that meant even the Hinwil-based outfit wasn't expecting much cheer.

But against all odds, Hulkenberg surprised his team, the paddock and himself as he took the chequered flag by coming in third, ending his unwanted record in Formula 1 ...