The Sauber team has landed at Suzuka for the 2024 Japanese GP, aiming to put an end to the pitstop woes that have plagued them in the season’s opening races.
Their recurring issue revolves around wheelnuts becoming cross-threaded during tire changes, leading to delays and setbacks. In the previous round in Melbourne, adjustments were made to their procedures in an attempt to rectify the problem.
However, even though improvements were implemented, a hiccup during Valtteri Bottas’s first pit stop in Australia resulted in a nearly 30-second delay. Moreover, a successful second service for Bottas was marred by a wheelnut rolling across the pitlane, resulting in a €5000 fine for Sauber.
Alessandro Alunni Bravi, representing the Sauber team, had stated prior to the Suzuka race that extensive efforts had been made at their base in Hinwil to address the pitstop issues. Bottas mentioned that progress had been made through modifications to procedures and materials, though the issue hadn’t been completely resolved.
While Bottas acknowledged that there might still be some pitstop concerns at Suzuka, he expressed optimism, noting that additional measures had been taken. He also mentioned a planned 100% fix for the issue, hopefully to be implemented by the China GP.
Despite the ongoing challenges, Bottas emphasized the unity within the team, mentioning Sauber’s apology for the delayed stop in Melbourne. He stressed the seriousness with which they are tackling the issue, considering it a priority to resolve.
Looking ahead to the Suzuka race, Bottas emphasized the importance of consistent pit stops over sheer speed, highlighting the significance for the pit crew’s confidence. He expressed hope for a clean weekend without disruptions due to pitstop issues.
Reflecting on the origin of the problem, Bottas mentioned that the issues primarily surfaced in Bahrain during both testing and the race events. He speculated that temperature changes might be a contributing factor to the problem, indicating that it became noticeable during testing but escalated during the Bahrain race.
While Sauber is still grappling with pitstop issues, they are actively working to address them and remain hopeful for smoother operations in Suzuka and beyond.
