Peter Sauber’s analysis: “Zhou fell victim to Bottas”

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It was an amazing qualification for the 7th World Cup in Barcelona. Only the pole man was normal: Max Verstappen (25) in the Red Bull Honda. Sainz will start alongside him in the Ferrari – the other red car with Leclerc will start from 19th position!

Small names made it big on a dry track for once: Norris, Gasly, Stroll, Hülkenberg and Piastri in the top ten.

The death of the favorites was a search for logical explanations, which Leclerc could not give: “I couldn’t get through the left turns!”

Sauber hoped for better starting positions

At Alfa-Sauber, former team owner Peter Sauber (79) was an attentive observer: “I was hoping for better starting positions!” Well, the Chinese Zhou is 13th – the Finn Bottas 16th.

Clean to Sunday’s image: “Bottas got into traffic, couldn’t attack and the tires were cold, which led to spin.” And for a quick exit. The saving 15th place (Pérez) was only 0.103 seconds short.

Clean: “Zhou was the victim of his teammate. Because to qualify for the second part of the time chase, Zhou needed a third set of tires as he had to stop his lap when Bottas spun. And then later Zhou ran out of new tires to attack!

Zhou like Pérez and Russell out in Q2

He missed out on the top ten final with Pérez, Russell and the two Alpha Tauri Hondas.

It’s amazing what passion Peter Sauber is still involved with and getting behind. It provides the clear analysis that one searches for in vain in the Hinwil press release! But this fun conversation has long affected most teams.

Verstappen: “It was easy!”

In the final in front of about 100,000 fans, behind Pool king Verstappen (“It was relatively easy with this car! It can work on Sunday.”) There was no question of a Spanish duel. Alonso (8th after Gasly’s relegation) was just able to pass Piastri in Q3 with his broken Aston Martin. The green World Cup third had previously cut open the bottom plate during an excursion.

Hope is now pinned on Sainz: “After the many disappointments in 2023, I needed such a result. I think I rode well – and the goal should be the first podium this year. Or will Ferrari, fourth in the World Cup, experience another debacle?

Gasly was fined in the evening

It was clear that Gasly had lost his fourth place on the grid. He had suspended Verstappen and Sainz. The Frenchman in the Alpine was fined twice with three penalty points. The FIA ​​needed more than three hours for this decision.

pk Seen among the sports stars: Medvedev, Gnabry, Levandovsky.

Source : Blick