Pascal Wehrlein has scored the first point of his Formula 1 career in Sunday’s Austrian Grand Prix with 10th place for Manor, after qualifying a career-best 12th.
It also marks the first point for the Manor Racing team since the late Jules Bianchi’s memorable ninth place finish in the 2014 Monaco Grand Prix. It breaks the tie between Manor and Sauber at the back of the Constructor’s Championship; Sauber is now the only team yet to score this season.
Wehrlein ran Pirelli’s soft compound through to the finish, the final 40 laps.
“At one point I was feeling quite dejected, because we were a little unlucky with our strategy in relation to the safety car,” Wehrlein said in the team’s post-race release. “I’d just pitted, so when I came out after my second stop, I was last. That wasn’t such a great feeling, but we just had to work with what we had, which was soft tires all the way to the finish – 40 laps!
“To finish the race in the points from that position by running for more than half a race distance on a single set of tires is an incredible achievement.”
Wehrlein said the result means a lot because it was on legitimate pace and shows the team’s improvement.
“It’s very important. Not just because of what it means for our position in the championship, but it also shows that we have made real progress,” he said. “It’s been a step-by-step process, and one that hasn’t always been visible to people outside of the team, but today is a good day and a really great reward for all of us.
“It’s incredible. I’m so happy! It’s just been one of those weekends and to end it this way is a fantastic reward for everyone.”
Lest Wehrlein’s day be the only one of note for Manor, teammate Rio Haryanto banked a respectable 16th place result – his second-best this season (15th at Monaco).
The team was understandably happy, so here was its reaction as the race wound down on Twitter:
