Zhou Guanyu, from the Sauber C44 car from China, made a pit stop during the Formula 1 World Championship race at the Australian Grand Prix in Albert Park, Melbourne, on March 24, 2024.
Sauber’s Track Engineering Director, Xevi Pujolar, revealed that the team’s ongoing pit stop issues in Formula 1 are due to a “hardware problem.” The Hinwil-based team had a disappointing performance last season, finishing ninth in the standings. The start of the current season has been equally disastrous for Sauber, as they have failed to score any points. In addition to struggling with the competitiveness of the C44 car, Sauber has also been plagued by lengthy pit stops in the first three rounds of the championship.
During the season opener in Bahrain, driver Bottas had to endure a 52-second pit stop, while his teammate Zhou Guanyu faced a setback in his comeback race in Jeddah. Despite the team’s promises to make improvements and solve the issue, Bottas received a 31-second pit stop at the Australian Grand Prix last weekend. Sauber was also fined €5,000 for releasing a wheel nut on the pit lane. Pujolar admitted that the recurring problem requires a more fundamental solution.
Pujolar explained: “Since the first race, we have encountered some issues with pit stops, specifically with the cross-threading. We did not encounter this issue during free practice or even during the winter. However, it becomes more critical every time we enter a race situation. We made some small modifications this week, but they are not sufficient. We had another issue in the pit stop. As long as we have this problem, it will be very difficult for us. It is not the team’s fault; they are doing everything correctly. The problem lies in the hardware and we need time to find a solution and the necessary parts to fix it before the race in Suzuka.”
Pujolar also revealed that finding the final solution will take longer because Sauber relies on external suppliers for the specific parts that need to be replaced.
Despite Bottas’ impressive performance in qualifying, reaching Q2 for the first time in 2024, his chances of scoring points were ruined by the extensive 31-second pit stop. Both Max Verstappen and the two Mercedes drivers were out of the race, and Bottas had a fierce battle with the Haas drivers, who ended up finishing in the points. Bottas crossed the finish line in 14th place, one position ahead of Zhou. Sauber Team Representative, Alessandro Alunni Bravi, admits that the team is letting their drivers down.
“First of all, we need to apologize to our drivers, especially to Valtteri, who showed in the first part of the race that he could compete with the top 10 drivers and was clearly fighting for a place in the points, thanks to a good start and a good pace,” said Alunni Bravi. “As we mentioned before the race, we implemented measures to mitigate our pit stop issue, which improved the situation, but did not completely solve the problem. As a team, we need to take responsibility when these things happen. It is the only way we can improve.”
© 2024
Formula 1 driver Max Verstappen is facing criticism after a controversial incident during the Brazilian Grand Prix last weekend. Verstappen was involved in a collision with driver Lewis Hamilton, resulting in both cars going off track. The controversy stems from the fact that Verstappen was deemed responsible for the incident, but many fans and experts disagree with this decision. Some believe that Hamilton also had a role in the collision. The rivalry between the two drivers is intensifying and this only adds to the tension in future races.
The incident occurred on the 48th lap of the race, when Verstappen tried to overtake Hamilton in a corner. The two cars made contact and were forced off track. Verstappen was penalized with a five-position grid penalty for the next race. However, many believe that the punishment was unfair and that Hamilton should have also been penalized in some way. The debate about the responsibility for the incident continues and will likely be discussed for a long time.
Verstappen and Hamilton have a long history of rivalry in Formula 1. The two drivers often engage in fierce disputes during races, which has generated a lot of excitement for fans. However, the rivalry has also sparked controversies and criticisms. Some believe that the drivers are crossing the line of fair play and putting themselves and other drivers at risk. Formula 1 is a dangerous sport and it is important for drivers to act responsibly and respect the rules.
Now, Formula 1 is facing criticism for its approach to the incident between Verstappen and Hamilton. Some believe that the punishment imposed on Verstappen was too lenient and that the FIA (International Automobile Federation) should have been stricter. Others argue that the decision was fair and that Verstappen needs to learn to be more careful during races. Regardless of the opinion, it is clear that the rivalry between the two drivers is intensifying and this only adds to the excitement in the races.
The next Formula 1 race will be held in two weeks and many fans are eager to see how the rivalry between Verstappen and Hamilton will unfold. It will be interesting to see if the drivers can put the incident behind them and focus on the race or if the tension between them will continue to grow. One thing is certain, the rivalry between Verstappen and Hamilton is far from over and will continue to be one of the biggest highlights of Formula 1 in the years to come.
