Sebastian Vettel Takes Victory, Opposition Falters

Qualifying:

Pos#DriverConstructorQ1Q2Diff.
157Dean StonemanPrecision-Mercedes1:15.0001:15.131
294Pascal WehrleinPrecision-Mercedes1:15.5011:15.225+0.225
337Victoria DesaiFerrari1:17.7611:15.259+0.259
429Roger IbeRed Bull-Ferrari1:16.2271:15.683+0.683
523Alexander AlbonFerrari1:19.3901:15.764+0.764
618Sebastian VettelCaterham-Judd1:15.8911:16.089+0.891
747Lando NorrisCaterham-Judd1:16.1491:15.975+0.975
833Max VerstappenRed Bull-Ferrari1:16.0231:16.026+1.023
977Valtteri BottasToyota1:16.3111:16.105+1.105
1039Sho TsuboiBR Mansell-Toyota1:16.1461:16.359+1.146
1126Robert ShwartzmanWilliams-Ferrari1:17.3191:16.286+1.286
1270Sérgio Sette CâmaraWilliams-Ferrari1:16.6831:16.319+1.319
1320Kevin MagnussenToyota1:16.4391:16.616+1.439
1431Esteban OconFAST-BMW1:18.0461:17.685+2.685
1511Terry HawkinFAST-BMW1:17.8921:18.030+2.892
1623Jules BianchiMRT-BMW1:18.4211:18.102+3.102
1756Einar ÁrmannssonMRT-BMW1:18.5901:18.278+3.278
1895Beitske VisserLoonmotor-Judd1:20.0411:18.962+3.962
191Artem MarkelovBR Mansell-Toyota1:19.1261:16.145+1.145*
2055Carlos Sainz, Jr.Dawson-Mercedes1:19.0811:19.049+4.049
214Robin FrijnsDawson-Mercedes1:19.7681:19.554+4.554
2246Alessandro CicognaniLoonmotor-Judd1:20.0131:20.260+5.013
237Charles LeclercSauber-Judd1:20.1911:20.099+5.099
2484Jack AitkenSauber-Judd1:21.3371:21.137+6.137

* 10-place grid penalty

Report:

After a technical issue, Victoria Desai was dealing with a Williams issue that prevented her from getting back to the top.
The historic New Zealand International Grand Prix returned to its traditional place early in the year and despite the cooler temperatures, things got rather heated in the cockpits. Errors, both technical and mental, were the order of the afternoon.

One man left to profit from this was the oldest driver on the grid: 34-year old Sebastian Vettel showed off the full experience his fourteen seasons in the sport and took his first victory of the season and the 63rd of his career.

However, he was not the only star to shine. Williams-Ferrari had the edge over their fellow Ferrari-powered teams and used their power to delay Victoria Desai, enabling Camara to take his best Formula One result so far.

Precision had a small moment of joy as their race pace was not as catastrophic as in Melbourne, allowing Pascal Wehrlein to barely edge out a struggling Max Verstappen to the final point;

Race:

Pos#DriverConstructorTime/RetiredPoints
118Sebastian VettelCaterham-Judd69:25.02315
270Sérgio Sette CâmaraWilliams-Ferrari+25.06612
337Victoria DesaiFerrari+25.58210
426Robert ShwartzmanWilliams-Ferrari+57.8638
577Valtteri BottasToyota+61.7136
647Lando NorrisCaterham-Judd+62.2745
723Alexander AlbonFerrari1 Lap4
811Terry HawkinFAST-BMW1 Lap3
939Sho TsuboiMansell-Mercedes1 Lap2
1094Pascal WehrleinPrecision-Mercedes1 Lap1
1133Max VerstappenRed Bull-Ferrari1 Lap
1257Dean StonemanPrecision-Mercedes1 Lap
1314Esteban OconFAST-BMW1 Lap
1420Kevin MagnussenToyota1 Lap
1556Einar ÁrmannssonMRT-BMW2 Laps
1695Beitske VisserLoonmotor-Judd2 Laps
177Charles LeclercSauber-Judd2 Laps
1885Jack AitkenSauber-Judd3 Laps
1946Alessandro CicognaniLoonmotor-Judd3 Laps
2055Carlos Sainz, Jr.Dawson-Mercedes4 Laps
214Robin FrijnsDawson-Mercedes4 Laps
DNF1Artem MarkelovBR Mansell-ToyotaThrottle
DNF23Jules BianchiMRT-BMWMotor
DNF29Roger IbeRed Bull-FerrariMotor

Fastest Lap:

Alexander Albon – 1:16.419

Infinite Improbability Drive Of The Race:

Beitske Visser – took on the challenge of a world’s champion and came out on top.

Reject Of The Race:

Alexander Albon – his first pitstop was not his fault; the other two were.