We never expected Sebastien Buemi to get comfortable in last place after the lights went out. Following a spin in qualifying, the Swiss driver was plonked to the back of the pack, somewhere he clearly isn’t comfortable being for long if today’s driving was anything to go by.
Effortlessly climbing three places before the first lap of the relatively small Buenos Aires circuit was even over, the tone was set for Buemi’s next 45 minutes or so – a time spent relentlessly and indiscriminately flying past anyone who dared to get in his path.
Towards the top of the field, pole-clincher Sam Bird probably wasn’t expecting the sight of Buemi’s e.dams Renault in his rear-view mirrors towards the end of the race, with the Brit until this point putting on a sterling display to maintain his first position with a considerable gap.
But shortly after the halfway car swap, that’s exactly the predicament Bird was placed under. Buemi had amazingly steadily climbed his way up, eventually taking Di Grassi to secure a podium finisher. The last three laps were a blur of butt-clenching, adrenaline-injected excitement as Buemi tried with all his might to get past the DS Virgin Racing car of Bird.
Bird had other ideas about following the crowd and letting Buemi by, however. Clearly with a slightly less capable car, it took the drive of his life to defend the top spot. But he delivered, and as the chequered flag fell, you could almost hear his sigh of relief from back here in Britain. Still, what a drive by Buemi!
Elsewhere, António Félix da Costa came to a crashing end in lap 18 from P2 after a momentary lapse in concentration – a sad and undeserved end for the Portugese Aguri driver. Prost and Di Grassi are currently under investigation following a little love nudge from Di Grassi, as is Buemi for apparently cutting up Prost in the pits. So the results are still provisional at this time.
Another fantastic race. For full standings and the latest on the current investigations, click here.
Who do you think deserved driver of the day? Let us know in the comments, and we’ll see you in Mexico in six weeks…
