Lando Norris Conquers Strategic Battle in Bahrain

Qualifying:

Pos	#	Driver	Constructor	Q1	Q2	Diff.
1	39	Sho Tsuboi		1:31.193	1:31.056
2	64	Dave Cassidy		1:31.230	1:31.383	+0.174
3	18	Sebastian Vettel		1:31.518	1:31.278	+0.222
4	47	Lando Norris		1:31.451	1:31.319	+0.263
5	7	Charles Leclerc		1:31.321	1:31.655	+0.265
6	26	Robert Shwartzman		1:31.534	1:31.331	+0.275
7	6	Artem Markelov		1:31.800	1:31.458	+0.302
8	57	Dean Stoneman		1:31.619	1:31.569	+0.513
9	94	Pascal Wehrlein		1:31.722	1:31.608	+0.552
10	23	Alexander Albon		1:31.612	1:31.986	+0.556
11	33	Max Verstappen		1:32.134	1:31.897	+0.841
12	70	Sérgio Sette Câmara		1:31.938	1:32.238	+0.882
13	29	Roger Ibe		1:32.131	1:32.068	+1.012
14	31	Esteban Ocon		1:32.089	1:32.303	+1.033
15	77	Valtteri Bottas		1:32.499	1:32.099	+1.043
16	13	Pastor Maldonado		1:33.044	1:33.017	+1.961
17	37	Kazuki Nakajima		1:32.070	1:32.741	+1.014*
18	84	Jack Aitken		1:33.746	1:33.246	+2.190
19	23	Jules Bianchi		1:33.333	1:33.542	+2.278
20	73	Daniel Melrose		1:33.675	1:33.574	+2.518
21	4	Robin Frijns		1:33.907	1:33.584	+2.528
22	99	Antonio Giovinazzi		1:34.228	1:34.228	+3.232
23	98	Bradley Dagnall		1:34.538	1:34.418	+3.362
24	55	Carlos Sainz, Jr.		1:33.942	1:34.542	+2.886**

* 3-place grid penalty
** 5-place grid penalty

Report:

 

The heat was on in Bahrain as the championship moved forward. One factor that caused the gears to turn in the strategists’ heads: a one-stop strategy would be highly limited as to when it can be executed.

This made two-stoppers an attractive option for most race engineers. Dave Cassidy, who took the lead at the start, was one of these and he was expecting to pass one-stopper Lando Norris. However, the Brit easily managed to maintain the pace needed to win the Bahrain Grand Prix.

This will be particularly annoying to Sebastian Vettel, who was moved to the two-stop strategy and finished quite behind his teammate, failing to beat Charles Leclerc for fifth position as part of a great day for FAST.

Precision had to work hard, but they have continued their streak of finishing in the top 10 with both cars and manage to keep up with the big boys in the WCC, with the exception of BR Mansell, who are pulling away at a ridiculous pace. Can anyone stop the Russian team?

Race:

Pos	#	Driver	Constructor	Time/Retired	Points
1	47	Lando Norris		56:14.985	15
2	64	Dave Cassidy		+10.937	12
3	14	Esteban Ocon		+17.384	10
4	6	Artem Markelov		+26.551	8
5	7	Charles Leclerc		+36.380	6
6	18	Sebastian Vettel		+36.508	5
7	70	Sérgio Sette Câmara		+45.124	4
8	23	Alexander Albon		+53.987	3
9	57	Dean Stoneman		+54.064	2
10	94	Pascal Wehrlein		+54.962	1
11	77	Valtteri Bottas		+58.142	0
12	29	Roger Ibe		+61.935	0
13	37	Kazuki Nakajima		+62.677	0
14	13	Pastor Maldonado		+69.663	0
15	85	Jack Aitken		+92.495	0
16	73	Daniel Melrose		1 Lap	0
17	19	Robin Frijns		1 Lap	0
18	98	Bradley Dagnall		1 Lap	0
19	99	Antonio Giovinazzi		1 Lap	0
20	39	Sho Tsuboi		Motor	0
DNF	33	Max Verstappen		Transmission	0
DNF	23	Jules Bianchi		Motor	0
DNF	55	Carlos Sainz, Jr.		Motor	0
DNF	26	Robert Shwartzman		Collision	0

Fastest Lap:

Dave Cassidy – 1:34.007

Infinite Improbability Drive Of The Race:

Esteban Ocon – an impressive run up the order with a one-stop strategy.

Reject Of The Race:

Jack Aitken – he needs to be better, even if the Sauber isn’t the greatest ride out there.