The pit stop problems cannot be fixed for Kick Sauber in Japan
Kick Sauber (former Alpha Romeo) arrives in Japan, with the memory of a race spoiled in Australia, after an incident in the pit lane. The issue of nuts is far from being resolved according to Valtteri Bottas.
Valtteri Bottas stated that Sauber’s pit stop problem is unfortunately not yet 100% resolved and may not be resolved before the return of the Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix, later in April.
The Italian-Swiss team has arrived in Suzuka for the 2024 Japanese GP this weekend with uncertainty. This season, the team has been experiencing issues with pit stops, which have spoiled each of its performances in the first three races of the new season. The problem involves wheel nuts getting crossed during the changes, forcing the team to adjust its procedures in Melbourne.
Unfortunately, the problem reappeared during Bottas’ first pit stop, which lasted nearly 30 seconds. A nut then ended up in the pit lane, resulting in Sauber being fined €5,000.
The Sauber team representative, Alessandro Alunni Bravi, had declared before the Suzuka race that the team had worked day and night at the Hinwil base to solve our pit stop issues. According to Bottas, this meant progress on the changes made to the procedure and some of the materials we could use.
An unresolved problem
“Some measures have been taken, but unfortunately, it is not yet fully resolved,” he replied when asked by Autosport if he still expected Sauber to face new pit stop issues at Suzuka.”
« But, once again, the risk of having a problem should be lower. Fundamentally, it is an issue that we did not know before the season that it would be a problem and it is not a miracle solution.
But hopefully there is a 100% solution planned for China. I am still not 100% sure. But additional measures have been taken here about this, he continues.
Bottas also said that Sauber had apologized, which is fair, for their delayed pit stop in Melbourne, which, according to him, cost him a chance to score the team’s first points in 2024.
« But we are in the same boat. I was disappointed, but the whole team was disappointed because these things should not happen », he said.
« So, we definitely take this seriously and it is now a priority to solve this problem. »
While pit stop issues are set to continue to be a concern for Sauber in the short term, Bottas believes it would boost the team’s confidence in the pit lane if they had consistent service in Suzuka, even if it meant slower stops overall.
The team has not scored any points since the start of the season. “Of course, I hope for a clean weekend,” he hammered.
