Pascal Wehrlein says he drove every lap like it was ‘qualifying’ in the closing stages of the Spanish Grand Prix as he aimed to hold onto what would be Sauber’s first points of the season.
Wehrlein was running in seventh place following multiple casualties and a pitstop under the virtual safety car. However, he received a five-second penalty for a pit entry infringement due to the call to pit coming too late.
The German had to cut across the track, failing to stay on the right-hand side of the bollard at the pit entry as required by the rules. Though he was handed a penalty, Wehrlein says it was his only option if he was to score points.
“I just got the call when I was already there in the last corner,” he said.
“I knew when they called me so late it’s important to come in, I missed the bollard, but if I wouldn’t stop in this lap, everyone behind would have overtaken me.
“This was the only chance to get some points.
“I expected a penalty, probably I hoped for a penalty next race or a fine for the team or something.
“But I’m also happy about the five seconds, it’s better than a drive-through penalty.”
With his penalty, Wehrlein at one stage was scheduled to drop to 10th at the flag but Kevin Magnussen and Daniil Kvyat collided, with the Dane receiving a puncture.
Wehrlein also managed to find an extra gear, pushing to build a gap and repelling Carlos Sainz Jr.’s attempts to pass.
“At the end, Sainz Jr. put a lot of pressure and he tried many times, but it was so important to keep him behind and then make a gap to the other guys behind him as I got the five-second penalty,” he added.
“At the end, I tried to make a bigger gap, every lap was like qualifying, in the first part of the race, the most important part was to manage the tyres and still be quick.
“Overall it was a great race, a great from the team, so I’m very happy.”
