Following another pit stop issue during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Sauber is taking decisive action to rectify the recurring problem.
Valtteri Bottas suffered nearly a 50-second setback during his second pit stop in the Bahrain GP due to a cross-threading issue at the front axle. In the recent Saudi Arabian race, driver Zhou Guanyu encountered a similar problem, resulting in a 25-second delay during his pit stop.
Team representative Alessandro Alunni Bravi emphasized that the pit stop issues were not caused by the mechanics’ error but acknowledged the need to address the underlying problem promptly. The team is actively investigating and working to resolve the issue to prevent recurrence in future races.
Sauber had implemented changes this season aimed at achieving faster pit stops, but the recent incidents have prompted a review of these modifications. Alunni Bravi highlighted the team’s comprehensive approach to addressing the issue, focusing on ensuring both speed and reliability during pit stops.
Racing director Xevi Pujolar echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the importance of resolving the pit stop issue before the upcoming Australian Grand Prix. While acknowledging the team’s efforts, Pujolar stressed the need for further adjustments to enhance the team’s resilience and minimize the risk of similar incidents in future races.
The team identified the cause of the issue as a cross thread, which requires additional time to rectify during pit stops. Sauber is actively working on implementing measures to mitigate this issue and ensure a smoother performance in upcoming races.
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