Alunni Bravi: “Good progress” on pit stops / Formula 1

Pit tests are at the heart of the matter at Sauber this season. In the first three races of the season there were frequent problems with the wheel nuts sticking or even spinning through the fast track. As a result, several tire changes sometimes took half a minute. Problems with equipment mean that something often gets stuck between drilling the hammer, nut and wheel and processes are delayed. Annoying waste of time.

Team representative Alessandro Alunni Bravi now says: “After three races in which we had problems with pit stops, we can see good progress here. We had four stops without any problems.”

However: The team from Hinwil, Switzerland, still does not change their tires perfectly, i.e. without mistakes and at the same time quickly. At the center of a five-car group on lap 23, Valtteri Bottas made a slow stop and lost places each to Lance Stroll and Yuki Tsunodas. The last-mentioned driver finished in the points, Bottas came away empty-handed.

Alunni Bravi explains: “At the moment we are not concerned with speed, but with stability and reliability of our stations, which was the case today.”

In general, the Italian says: “We know that we are on the right path. Development is going well, improvements are working, our stations are getting better and better.

However: Instead of a pit stop problem, Zhou Guanyu had a driving problem that now needs to be investigated. The Chinese had to park his car in the race before his first home doctor, which takes place in less than two weeks.

Japan-GP, Suzuka Circuit

01. Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing, 1:54:23,566 h
02. Sergio Pérez (MEX), Red Bull Racing, +12.535 seconds
03. Carlos Sainz (E), Ferrari, +20,866
04. Charles Leclerc (MC), Ferrari, +26,522
05. Lando Norris (GB), McLaren, +29.700
06. Fernando Alonso (E), Aston Martin, +44,272
07. George Russell (GB), Mercedes, +45,951
08. Oscar Piastri (AUS), McLaren, +47.525
09. Lewis Hamilton (GB), Mercedes, +48,626
10. Yuki Tsunoda (J), Racing Bulls, +1 Round
11. Nico Hülkenberg (D), Haas, +1 lap
12. Lance Stroll (CDN), Aston Martin, +1 Round
13. Kevin Magnussen (DK), Haas, +1 Lap
14. Valtteri Bottas (FIN), clean, +1 lap
15. Esteban Ocon (F), Alpine, +1 Round
16. Pierre Gasly (F), Alpine, +1 Round
17. Logan Sargeant (USA), Williams, +1 Round

outside
Guanyu Zhou (RCH), Sauber, Elektrik
Alex Albon (T), Williams, Crash
Daniel Ricciardo (AUS), Racing Bull, Crash

World Championship Standings (after 4 out of 24 Grands Prix)

the driver
01. Verstappen 77 points
02. Perez 64
03. Leclerc 59
04. Sainz 55
05. Norris 37
06. Plate 32
07. Russell 24
08. Alonso 24
09. Hamilton 10
10. Walk 7
11. Tsunoda 7
12. Oliver Bearman (GB) 6
13. Hulkenberg 3
14. Magnussen 1
15. Alboni 0
16. Zhou 0
17. Ricciardo 0
18. Okon 0
19. 0 gas
20. Bota 0
21. Sergeant 0

Builders Cup
01. Red Bull Racing 141 Punkte
02. Ferrari 120
03. McLaren 69
04. Mercedes 34
05. Aston Martin 33
06. Running Bull 7
07. Especially 4
08. Williams 0
09. Sauber 0
10. Alpine 0