It was a fantastic Grand prix for the Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team at the Baku City Circuit. In an eventful and hectic race with difficult track and weather conditions, the target was to finish the race, scoring the best possible results and both Charles Leclerc and Marcus Ericsson did a very good job.
The Monegasque rookie finished the fourth race of his debut season in sixth place, scoring eight points for the team. Starting in P13 with a one-stop race strategy, he put in a strong and consistent performance and steadily made his way to the front of the midfield.
“It was an amazing race – I am very happy with my result. It was definitely eventful, with many incidents on track making it especially challenging and fun to drive. I felt comfortable in the car and did my best to gradually advance to the front of the midfield through the race. It is an incredible feeling to score points for the first time in Formula 1. As a team, we can see our potential, and know what our strengths are. I am very pleased, and look forward to continuing on this positive path”, Leclerc said.
Incredible day… P6 & Driver Of The Day !! Huge thanks to @sauberf1team, what an amazing job. Let’s enjoy the moment & work on Barcelona !! pic.twitter.com/iZekWXbgwm
— Charles Leclerc (@Charles_Leclerc) April 29, 2018
Ericsson successfully advanced to P11 and was able to save a difficult race that was compromised by his involvement in an early incident that resulted in him pitting and changing strategy.
“It was a difficult race for me. I was involved in an incident at the beginning of the race and picked up some damage to the car. I was struggling to keep everything together after that, and I gave everything to catch up with my direct competitors. In the end, it was good to manage to finish in P11. As a team, we have scored points for the second time this season, which is very motivating, and our potential is becoming more clear with every weekend. We must keep up the good work now. I look forward to the next race weekend in Barcelona”, he explained.
Leclerc: It was an amazing race – I am very happy with my result
Team Principal Frédéric Vasseur added: “We are very pleased with the job that we have done through whole weekend starting from Friday and then a good qualifying session. Charles scored his first points in Formula 1, finishing in P6. He had a strong pace and did a consistent job. It was a huge step for him to make and he can be proud of what he has achieved.”
“Marcus put up a good fight. He was involved in an incident at the beginning of the race, which set him back and made it tough for him, however, he managed to recover and catch up with the midfield. He finally finished in P11 and was very close to scoring points. It is a great achievement for the team, not only for the points but also for the pace shown especially in the first stint. Now we have to stay focused in order to continue this good work.”
The Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team now holds a total of ten points in this season’s Constructor’s Championship, placing the team in ninth place. Charles Leclerc is in thirteenth with Marcus Ericsson in sixteenth in the Drivers’ Championship.
