Formula 1®
DHL Fastest Pit Stop Award: 2017 FORMULA 1 GULF AIR BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX
Williams take DHL Fastest Pit Stop in Sakhir
As in Australia and China, Williams driver Felipe Massa was again the one with the fastest tire change in Bahrain. The Williams crew only needed an amazing 2.34 seconds for the Brazilian's second pit stop on Lap 37, once again proving they're on top form – every movement of the hand just perfect.
Force India slotted into place right behind Williams, turning Sergio Perez around in 2.46 seconds, followed by Red Bull with Daniel Ricciardo, whose tire change took 2.52 seconds. A total of eleven of the 31 pit stops at the 2017 FORMULA 1 GULF AIR BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX were completed in less than three seconds.
The average of the times needed for pit stops show that both Williams and Force India are on form. Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon pitted four times to change tires. The Force India pit crew needed only 2.71 seconds on average.
Massa's two pit stops averaged out at 2.94 seconds. The Williams crew required only 2.7 secs to service the car of teammate Lance Stroll on his only visit to the pits.
Undercut gives Vettel the win
Achieving his second victory in the third race of the season, Sebastian Vettel has made the best start to a season of a Ferrari driver since Michael Schumacher in 2004. The German laid the foundations for success on the tenth lap when he pitted from second place behind Valtteri Bottas. This bold undercut turned out to be a masterly stroke.
Vettel had a clear run and used his fresh tires after the pit stop to pass Bottas, who was having a tough time with tire pressure issues. Vettel went into P1 after all the other drivers had pitted. "We got everything right with the strategy. We decided to pit early and this tactics proved to be working," said Vettel with regard to his winning strategy.
Vettel asserted his lead as the race progressed and took advantage of the fact that Lewis Hamilton had a five-second time penalty to serve on his second stop, spending 8.85 secs in the pits. On his first stop during a safety car period, the Mercedes driver had impeded Daniel Ricciardo at the entrance to the pit lane while trying to avoid running into Bottas, whose car was already in the pits just being serviced by the Mercedes crew.
"Under the safety car, I just misjudged it myself, the situation; that was my fault, so my apologies to the team," said Hamilton. Although the Mercedes driver was able to catch Vettel in the final stages of the race, overtake teammate Bottas and secure the DHL Fastest Lap, Hamilton was unable to fight Vettel for the win.
Fastest pit stops: 2017 FORMULA 1 GULF AIR BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX
01 Felipe Massa (Williams) - 2.34s
02 Sergio Perez (Force India) - 2.46s
03 Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull) - 2.52s
04 Esteban Ocon (Force India) - 2.66s
05 Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) - 2.70s
06 Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) - 2.71s
07 Lance Stroll (Williams) - 2.74s
08 Esteban Ocon (Force India) - 2.82s
09 Sergio Perez (Force India) - 2.88s
10 Max Verstappen (Red Bull) - 2.97s
Williams extend lead in DHL Fastest Pit Stop Award
Williams on 96 points lead the DHL Fastest Pit Stop Award after three races this season and three top performances on the day. Red Bull on 52 points and Force India with 48 are some way off. Ferrari on 41 points are in fourth place. Apart from Renault and Sauber, all teams have scored points in the DHL Fastest Pit Stop Award.
Next race: 2017 FORMULA 1 VTB RUSSIAN GRAND PRIX
Formula 1 heads to the Black Sea and the Russian Grand Prix for the fourth race of the season. Williams achieved the fastest pit stop at Sochi in 2016, sending Felipe Massa back out on his way in 2.23 seconds. Ferrari were a mite faster in 2015 with 2.21 secs for Sebastian Vettel's tire change.
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