Sauber team’s representative, Alessandro Alunni Bravi, issued a heartfelt apology to driver Valtteri Bottas following repeated pit stop mishaps, underscoring the team’s commitment to resolving these issues.
Bottas encountered significant setbacks due to a hardware malfunction during tire changes at both the Bahrain and Australian Grand Prix, with a particularly distressing 30-second delay in Melbourne due to a wheelnut issue.
These incidents not only compromised Bottas’s potential for scoring points but also spotlighted Sauber’s struggles with pit stop operations, which similarly affected teammate Zhou Guanyu in Jeddah.
Alunni Bravi’s apology came directly after the Australian race, emphasizing solidarity and shared responsibility within the team.
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He stated, “It is important, because in three races we had three problems with the pitstop, also the second with Valtteri,” underscoring the team’s collective approach to winning and losing.
He further expressed the intention to keep Bottas motivated and acknowledged the necessity of working together to improve.
The team’s persistence with hardware issues signifies a challenge they are eager to overcome, with Alunni Bravi affirming, “We always say that we win or we lose together, but this is even more important in this situation.”
Despite the setbacks, Alunni Bravi highlighted positives from the Melbourne race, including Bottas’s competitive pace and the team’s improved performance from qualifying to the race.
Bottas expressed frustration over the recurring pit stop issues, labeling the 30-second stop in Australia as “unacceptable” and lamenting the lost opportunity for points, especially in a competitive season.
He acknowledged the team’s efforts to address the problem, emphasizing the urgency of finding a solution.
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Alunni Bravi also noted Bottas’s promising pace during the Australian Grand Prix, capable of competing with drivers like Fernando Alonso and Yuki Tsunoda initially.
Despite the adversity faced after being lapped due to the pit stop delay, the team remained optimistic about their performance and tire management, with Alunni Bravi concluding, “We know that we have this problem, we are working to fix it.
It’s very painful for all the team…and we will be stronger in Suzuka,” signifying hope for improvement and resilience moving forward.