Melrose Versus Kirchhöfer Results in Closest Finish in F1 History

Qualifying:

Pos	#	Driver	Constructor	Time
1	3	Marvin Kirchhöfer		1:12.344
2	7	Charles Leclerc		1:12.541
3	73	Daniel Melrose		1:12.695
4	18	Sebastian Vettel		1:12.741
5	64	Dave Cassidy		1:12.892
6	47	Lando Norris		1:12.901
7	6	Artem Markelov		1:12.925
8	33	Salvatore Miccoli		1:13.167
9	55	Santiago Urrutia		1:13.170
10	27	Jules Bianchi		1:13.220
11	11	James James Davies		1:13.790
12	35	Sergey Sirotkin		1:13.812
13	94	Pascal Wehrlein		1:14.028
14	96	Diego Álvarez Torrente		1:14.146
15	99	Mike Rockenfeller		1:14.276
16	14	Marcel Agyemang-Badu		1:14.401
17	1	Pastor Maldonado		1:14.732
18	19	Jordan Davies		1:15.394
19	57	Dean Stoneman		1:15.439
20	22	Kazuki Nakajima		1:15.694
21	56	Einar Ármannsson		1:15.844
22	23	Alexander Albon		1:15.900
23	10	Pierre Gasly		1:16.108
24	98	Bradley Dagnall		1:16.386

Report:

When the two Sauber drivers had a 1-2 seperated by 0.033 seconds at the end of the Cyprus Grand Prix, historic measurements made it unclear whether that finish was closer than the legendary photo finish F1 had called its closest before.

Marvin Kirchhöfer and Daniel Melrose, in their battle that lasted for the early part of the race and for the final part of the race put an end to this debate by settling their brawl by only 0.009 seconds, the experienced “German” beating the young German.

Both had the key roles in a race that saw the usual stars fighting in the midfield. Sebastian Vettel disappointed with driver errors all day long; the Precisions and Lando Norris were limited by their strategy and its execution and Ferrari just did not have enough pace.

Where they did not quite succeed, BR Mansell did. Profiting from a slowing Charles Leclerc in the final laps, they achieved their first Formula One podium with a 3-4 finish. Calinetic would have loved to get points, but the collision between their drivers prevented this from happening.

Race:

Pos	#	Driver	Constructor	Time/Retired	Points
1	73	Daniel Melrose		57:01.877	15
2	3	Marvin Kirchhöfer		+0.009	12
3	6	Artem Markelov		+14.285	10
4	35	Sergey Sirotkin		+18.262	8
5	7	Charles Leclerc		+23.539	6
6	33	Salvatore Miccoli		+29.568	5
7	14	Marcel Agyemang-Badu		+33.379	4
8	27	Jules Bianchi		+38.511	3
9	1	Pastor Maldonado		+39.995	2
10	99	Mike Rockenfeller		+42.490	1
11	64	Dave Cassidy		+46.266	0
12	47	Lando Norris		+56.136	0
13	22	Kazuki Nakajima		+63.767	0
14	10	Pierre Gasly		+70.397	0
15	11	James James Davies		1 Lap	0
16	98	Bradley Dagnall		1 Lap	0
17	23	Alexander Albon		1 Lap	0
18	55	Santiago Urrutia		Transmission	0
DNF	18	Sebastian Vettel		Accident	0
DNF	96	Diego Álvarez Torrente		Hydrogen Leak	0
DNF	94	Pascal Wehrlein		Collision	0
DNF	56	Einar Ármannsson		Collision	0
DNF	57	Dean Stoneman		Motor	0
DNF	19	Jordan Davies		Accident	0

Fastest Lap:

Charles Leclerc – 1:15.232

Infinite Improbability Drive Of The Race:

Marcel Agyemang-Badu – despite struggling in qualifying, he managed to fight himself back up the order.

Reject Of The Race:

Sebastian Vettel – one of the rare off-races of the two-time champion.