Alessandro Alunni Bravi, representative of the Sauber team, issued a sincere apology to driver Valtteri Bottas after a series of setbacks during pit stops, highlighting the team’s dedication to resolving these issues. Bottas faced major obstacles due to a malfunction of the equipment used to change tires in both the Bahrain and Australian Grand Prix races, with a particularly distressing 30-second delay in Melbourne caused by a problem with the wheel nut. These incidents not only hampered Bottas’ chances of scoring points, but also drew attention to Sauber’s challenges with pit stop operations, which also affected teammate Zhou Guanyu in Jeddah.
Alunni Bravi’s apology came immediately after the Australian race, emphasizing unity and shared responsibility within the team. He stated, “It is crucial because we had three problems with pit stops in three races, including the second one with Valtteri,” highlighting the team’s collective approach to both success and failure. He also expressed the intention to keep Bottas motivated and recognized the need for collaborative efforts to improve.
The team’s determination to address the hardware issues demonstrates their desire to overcome this challenge, with Alunni Bravi stating, “We always emphasize that we win or lose together, but this is even more significant in this situation.” Despite the setbacks, Alunni Bravi also highlighted positive aspects of the race in Melbourne, such as Bottas’ competitive speed and the team’s improved performance from qualifying to the actual race.
Bottas expressed frustration regarding the recurring issues during pit stops, describing the 30-second delay in Australia as “unacceptable” and lamenting the missed opportunity to score points, especially in such a competitive season. He acknowledged the team’s efforts to address the problem and emphasized the urgency of finding a solution.
Additionally, Alunni Bravi acknowledged Bottas’ impressive pace during the Australian Grand Prix, which allowed him to initially compete with drivers like Fernando Alonso and Yuki Tsunoda. Despite the adversity faced after being overtaken due to the pit stop delay, the team remained optimistic about his performance and tire management. Alunni Bravi concluded: “We are aware of this issue and we are working to resolve it. It is a painful situation for the whole team… but we will come out stronger in Suzuka,” indicating hope for improvement and resilience in the future.
