Tragic End to Solomon’s Heroics, Vettel Wins

Qualifying:

Pos	#	Driver	Constructor	Time
1	1	Sebastian Vettel		1:07.185
2	5	Valtteri Bottas		1:07.340
3	29	Pastor Maldonado		1:07.473
4	6	Matt Solomon		1:07.521
5	42	Davide Valsecchi		1:07.591
6	32	Daniel Melrose		1:07.755
7	43	Sergio Pérez		1:08.012
8	12	Scott Dixon		1:08.264
9	2	Lewis Hamilton		1:08.134
10	31	Rhys Davies		1:08.186
11	30	Nico Hülkenberg		1:08.273
12	28	Marcel Agyemang-Badu		1:07.793*
13	27	Nathan McKane		1:07.864*
14	90	Daniel Ricciardo		1:08.485
15	21	Stoffel Vandoorne		1:08.684
16	22	Johnny Cecotto Jr.		1:08.715
17	11	Daniël de Jong		1:08.716
18	91	Max Verstappen		1:08.940
19	63	Jules Bianchi		1:08.886
20	62	Dave Cassidy		1:09.017
21	66	Josef Newgarden		1:09.089
22	67	Pierre Gasly		1:09.106
23	55	Artem Markelov		1:09.240
24	99	Kevin Magnussen		1:09.410
25	56	Bradley Dagnall		1:09.717
26	98	Salvatore Miccoli		1:09.772

* demoted five places for changing engine/gearbox

Report:

“Speed” is the keyword for success on the Akrotiri Bay International Circuit. Ferrari-powered teams were hoping for big points on the EU-member island. The start of the European season is always a crucial time of the year, many teams bringing valueable upgrades to the circuit in hope of adding that one missing puzzle piece.

Caterham had brought a major upgrade, hoping to smash any hopes of the competition. Sebastian Vettel did just that in qualifying, scoring his third pole of the 2018 Formula One season. In the end, he was the dominant man, even after losing the lead at the start and then again losing it due to the sloppy work of his pitcrew, he proved unstoppable, grabbing the lead in the championship.

The driver he lost the lead to on these two occasions was not a man you would expect in that role. Matt Solomon proved an unlikely hero, taking his best starting position and grabbing the lead at the start. He managed to stay in the same stratosphere as Vettel and was on course to finish on the podium when his engine failed on the final lap: Solomon could not hide his tears and it is hard to blame him.

Other underdogs were also in a good position to use their good engines and did so. Davide Valsecchi scored his best result since the win he scored for Force India, coming home in fourth. Scott Dixon, meanwhile, carries Flanders-Holden on his back: a fifth place will place them before Red Bull in the race for the red lantern.

Race:

Pos	#	Driver	Constructor	Time/Retired	Points
1	1	Sebastian Vettel		33:18.666	17
2	29	Pastor Maldonado		+12.891	12
3	5	Valtteri Bottas		+13.496	10
4	42	Davide Valsecchi		+15.453	8
5	12	Scott Dixon		+21.503	6
6	30	Nico Hülkenberg		+23.775	5
7	27	Nathan McKane		+24.112	4
8	32	Daniel Melrose		+26.187	3
9	31	Rhys Davies		+33.020	2
10	90	Daniel Ricciardo		+37.435	1
11	21	Stoffel Vandoorne		+38.907	0
12	11	Daniël de Jong		+39.734	0
13	66	Josef Newgarden		+42.204	0
14	91	Max Verstappen		+43.976	0
15	28	Marcel Agyemang-Badu		+48.050	0
16	98	Salvatore Miccoli		+49.607	0
17	62	Dave Cassidy		+50.855	0
18	55	Artem Markelov		+52.994	0
19	6	Matt Salomon		Engine	0
20	99	Kevin Magnussen		+1 Laps	0
DNF	56	Bradley Dagnall		Transmission	0
DNF	43	Sergio Pérez		Engine	0
DNF	22	Johnny Cecotto Jr.		Loose Wheel	0
DNF	2	Lewis Hamilton		Engine	0
DNF	67	Pierre Gasly		Electrical	0
DNF	63	Jules Bianchi		Collision	0

Fastest Lap:

Matt Solomon – 1:09.082

Infinite Improbability Drive Of The Race:

Scott Dixon – Proved that he is worth every cent, a breathtaking effort.

Reject Of The Race:

Mercedes-Benz – Their engines proved completely worthless.