Pagenaud Secures First Podium, Vettel Wins Again

Qualifying:

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Report:

After the 20th race of this year’s Formula One season, a Sebastian Vettel world title looks less like a likely option and more like a certainty, especially since his biggest rivals fell over their feet near the Sonoma Mountains in the second Kawasaki Pacific Grand Prix of 2017. Nathan McKane had a good chance at a top 5 finish, when he hit a kerb too hard and planted his Ferrari in a wall and Daniil Kwjat threw a certain win away.

Kwjat had a good run off the line and managed to secure first place, as his teammate was harassed by the Sauber of Pastor Maldonado. Whilst the German managed to clear the Sauber driver with little trouble, Kwjat had the upper hand on the German for the entire first half of the Grand Prix. After Vettel was handed the lap, traffic involuntarily aided him in keeping Bourdais at an acceptable distance.

One driver that did not fail was Simon Pagenaud: the French driver, who once took an IndyCar series podium at this very venue, was on top of his game today and went on to overcome Stoffel Vandoorne representing the home team in order to take his first podium in Formula One. After a reasonably messy start to his F1 career, the Sauber leadership was more than happy to see Simon get his due rewards.

Rewards that Romain Grosjean also would have deserved, despite a miserable strategy by his pit crew he hung around in the points, pulling off the overtake of the year, quite similar to, but a bit crazier than, the pass Jenson Button achieved a few years ago. It was a shame that a KERS failure forced a pitstop on him, ending his chances of getting another points finish. He, like the many drivers with errors today, will hope his fate turns around in Mexico.

Race:

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Fastest Lap:

Sébastien Bourdais – 1:09.351

Infinite Improbability Drive Of The Race:

Simon Pagenaud – Made up for being a monkeyman and scored 15 points for Sauber.

Reject Of The Race:

Kevin Magnussen – Got in the way, was slow and made a dumb error to finish his race off.