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Davide Valsecchi scores hattrick of wins in Bahrain

Davide Valsecchi scores hattrick of wins in Bahrain

  • Published on 27 Apr 2012 20:14
  • comments 0
  • By: Rob Veenstra
It was a hat trick for DAMS’s Davide Valsecchi: the mighty Italian pocketed his third win in a row in today’s Feature Race at Bahrain International Circuit. Starting from P2 on the grid, Valsecchi stole the lead from poleman Giedo van der Garde before the compulsory pitstop and kept it until the chequered flag. Fabio Leimer ended up second for his first podium finish of the season ahead of van der Garde.

The Dutchman from Caterham Racing made a good start from pole and kept Valsecchi and Leimer at bay at Turn 1. Behind the trio, Marcus Ericsson stormed to P4 from ninth on the grid and sat ahead of Luiz Razia and Rio Haryanto. Van der Garde tried to pull away but was soon struggling with tyre wear giving Valsecchi the opportunity to close the gap and take the lead on Lap 8. Whilst the Italian dashed off at the front, Leimer was also able to catch up with van der Garde who was powerless and gave way to the Swiss. All cars at the front pitted early, Valsecchi on Lap 11 along with Leimer and Ericsson, van der Garde a lap earlier. The Swiss slowly closed in on Valsecchi who, in turn, clocked in a series of fast laps putting him safely out of reach.

Behind the top three, there was action and drama all over the field starting with Ericsson whose ambition was to steal third from van der Garde but was later struggling with tyre wear which saw Razia and Max Chilton pass him. The two men started a battle of their own for fourth whilst further down the pack Felipe Nasr was on a mission to recover from a delicate first stint. The rookie overtook both Esteban Gutierrez and Fabrizio Crestani in one move to charge to tenth place.

Johnny Cecotto who had pitted earlier than most on Lap 9 had made his way back to P7 from twentieth on the grid, but the Barwa Addax driver was under huge pressure from Tom Dillmann. The Frenchman eventually got past the Venezuelan who lost another position to a charging Rio Haryanto. The Indonesian then found a way past a slower Dillmann after an intense battle that saw the Frenchman lock up the wheels and fight back for two laps before having to surrender. Next, it was Nasr’s turn to pass Cecotto visibly struggling with tyre wear as well. Once the Venezuelan was out of the way, the Brazilian closed in on Dillmann quickly and moved up one position. Haryanto, also on a mission, overtook Ericsson for P6. The Swede became Nasr’s next target and lost P7 to the DAMS rookie.

At the chequered flag, Valsecchi punched the air with joy. Leimer and van der Garde completed the podium ahead of Razia, Chilton, Haryanto, Nasr, Ericsson, Dillmann and Cecotto. Ericsson will start tomorrow’s sprint race from reverse pole position.
GP2 News Felipe Nasr Marcus Ericsson Esteban Gutierrez Fabio Leimer Rio Haryanto DAMS Addax

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Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia
Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
19 - Apr 21
China
Shanghai International Circuit
3 - May 5
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
Italy
Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
24 - May 26
Monaco
Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
21 - Jun 23
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
28 - Jun 30
Austria
Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy
Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
Losail International Circuit
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
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Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
-
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
Japan Circuit Suzuka
19 - Apr 21
China Shanghai International Circuit
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
Italy Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
Canada Gilles Villeneuve
21 - Jun 23
Spain Circuit de Catalunya
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
Belgium Spa-Francorchamps
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
Singapore Marina Bay Street Circuit
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
Mexico Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
Qatar Losail International Circuit
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
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Driver profile

BR Felipe Nasr -
  • Team -
  • Points -
  • Podiums -
  • Grand Prix -
  • Country BR
  • Date of b. Aug 21 1992 (32)
  • Place of b. Brasilia, BR
  • Weight 68 kg
  • Length 1.75 m
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