"There were some problems with the rear tyres after my pit-stop, so I decided to hold my place as it was too risky to push," the Italian commented later, "I was a bit unlucky at the start, and lost positions due to Maldonado stalling on grid, but it was a very good pit-stop and I have to thank the team."
Villa was among those caught out by the amount of traffic at the pit-stop and, having dropped back to 16th, was only able to take 14th at the flag.
“It's a bit of a pity, as we could have had both drivers in the points," team owner d'Orleans Borbón said, "Due to the safety car, Javi dropped too far back, but I also think that we can work on making the cars better for tomorrow."
Sunday's sprint race got off to a cleaner start, even though Pantano was hampered slightly by the car in front of him on the grid being slightly slower away. However, he still managed to take fourth place, and sat right on the gearbox of Sebastien Buemi as the cars dived into the first corner. Villa also made a good start from the outside of row seven, but was fortunate to avoid a spinning Karun Chandhok. At the end of the first lap, he was already up to eleventh and had possible points on his mind as he continued his progress to ninth by the fourth lap.
Pantano, meanwhile, was trying everything he could to pass Buemi, attempting to outbrake the Swiss driver into the first corner on lap three, but finding that, despite having the faster car, there was nowhere to pass without his rival making a mistake. On top of that, the Italian also had Petrov keeping up pressure behind him.
Villa gradually closed in on the group of cars battling over positions three to eight, but also had to be careful of the chasing Davide Valsecchi. The young Spaniard, however, drove quickly and without mistakes. For the next eight laps, the positions remained largely static, although Petrov's retirement moved Villa up to eighth.
