PEREZ GETS FIRST EVER WIN IN HIS GRAND PRIX CAREER; MERCEDES MAKES HUGE PIT STOP BLUNDER

 

Perez, Ocon, Stroll celebrating on Podium. Image courtesy: Instagram 

 RENAULT’S ESTEBAN OCON GETS HIS FIRST PODIUM, RACING POINT'S LANCE STROLL FINISHED THIRD

Key Highlights

·       George Russell misses Podium after an unexpected error occurred during pit stop

·       Racing Point steals the show in Sakhir, takes advantage for third position in Constructors Championship

·       Mercedes fined for $20,000 for tyre mix up

Yet again, the Bahrain International Circuit gifted F1 fans a race with so much drama, thrill and intensity. The second last race of the season showed us how competitive F1 is. It’s no doubt that anyone didn’t expect to see Perez, Ocon and Stroll on Podium but it is really good for F1. 

On very first lap of the race, at fourth corner three drivers- Sergio Perez, Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen came to a collision and that caused Max and Leclerc to go out of the race. While turning at the fourth corner Leclerc hit behind Perez’s car and the Mexican found spinning out of the track. Max tried to avoid collision, he went out of the track but failed to control and hit the barrier. Leclerc’s front left tyre found broken but luckily Perez’s car didn’t have any damage. He was instructed to box by his team and after first lap he was eighteenth. 

Mercedes crew refitted hard tyres on Valtteri's car. Image courtesy: Instagram

Bottas who was starting from the pole position, was easily passed by teammate George Russell who raced as a stand in of Lewis Hamilton. Russell shows pure class throughout the race. He was leading and completely dominating the race. It was looked like Russell gonna make his first ever win, gonna score first ever points but sometimes you need luck to achieve something big.

When the safety car was called in lap 59, Mercedes tried to double stack their cars in pits. The crew released Russell, but it had accidentally fitted the tyres meant for Bottas to Russell’s car and then Bottas had his existing hard tyres refitted before being released. Mercedes fined £18,200 ($20,000) for their tyre mix up during pit stops.

George Russell looked devastated after missing his first ever win. Image courtesy: Instagram

Russell was immediately instructed to box again and after fitting exact tyres, when he joined the race, he was fifth but easily able to overtake car after car with fresh tyres. Bottas struggled to carry on with hard tyres and he was brilliantly overtaken by Russell. He was in position to win the race, he was second before a puncture in rear right tyre forced him another pit stop.

Mercedes’ tyre mix up helped other drivers to go on an almost free ride. Ocon and Stroll managed to finished second and third. But most commendable performance was given by Sergio Perez, who was last after the first lap, ended first. He was very good throughout the season. Unluckily he missed Podium in Bahrain GP because of a nasty engine failure. But it’s his day and he drove outstandingly in Sakhir, earned his first ever win in GP career.

Checo became emotional on Podium. Image courtesy: Instagram

Checo took 190 matches to win his first GP. Alongside Pedro Rodriguez ,Checo became only second Mexican to win a GP in history of F1. Checo is very impressive in this season but it is very hard to hear that he is not till contracted for next season.

Racing Point’s both drivers got Podium and it helped their team to get an advantage in the race of third position of Constructors Championship. Maclaren drivers Carlos Sainz Jr. and Norris must have to overshadow Perez and Stroll in season’s last GP in Abu Dhabi to take their team in third place.