Formula 1®
DHL Fastest Pit Stop Award: FORMULA 1 2018 VTB RUSSIAN GRAND PRIX
Key Takeaways
- Russian GP: Williams complete the DHL Fastest Pit Stop for the fourth time this season
- Lance Stroll is equipped with new tires in 2.36 seconds
- Red Bull Racing lead the DHL Fastest Pit Stop Award
Williams perform DHL Fastest pit stop in Sochi
The two Williams drivers had a disappointing Russian Grand Prix. Lance Stroll and local favorite Sergey Sirotkin were unable to finish any higher than P15 and P18, so the duo missed out on the points yet again.
While things did not go as hoped for on the track, the pit crew of the illustrious British outfit once again showed that they are among the Formula 1 aristocrats by completing the DHL Fastest Pit Stop.
Stroll was equipped with new tires on the seventh lap in his one and only stop of the race in 2.36 seconds – no other driver had speedier service during the afternoon in Sochi. Shortly after, Sirotkin was dispatched in 2.64 seconds, also a respectable time.
As in previous years, the teams in Russia opted for a one-stop strategy due to the low level of tire wear on this track. First to pit was Valtteri Bottas on Lap 12 while in the lead.
One lap later, Sebastian Vettel came in for a tire change, followed immediately by Lewis Hamilton. The one-lap undercut was enough for Vettel to overtake Hamilton and move up to second place. But his joy did not last long, because Hamilton struck back a short time later to retake the position from the Ferrari driver.
Hamilton eventually celebrated the race win after Bottas was issued with a Mercedes team order to allow the championship leader past. The Briton is now perfectly placed to clinch his fifth world title. With the Russian GP out of the way, it is clear that Vettel can no longer win the championship by his own efforts but will require some sort of divine intervention.
Top Ten pit stops in the FORMULA 1 2018 VTB RUSSIAN GRAND PRIX
- Lance Stroll (Williams) - 2.36s
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) - 2.45s
- Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari) - 2.47s
- Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) - 2.53s
- Brendon Hartley (Toro Rosso) - 2.57s
- Kevin Magnussen (Haas) - 2.62s
- Sergey Sirotkin (Williams) - 2.64s
- Stoffel Vandoorne (McLaren) - 2.72s
- Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) - 2.88s
- Sergio Perez (Force India) - 2.95s
Fastest Pit Stop Award: Red Bull retain the lead
Red Bull Racing are on 391 points in the DHL Fastest Pit Stop Award and have a clear lead over the other teams. Currently in second place are Ferrari on 262 followed by Mercedes in third on 232. The win for Williams in Russia Williams takes them up to fourth place (229) ahead of Sauber (198).
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