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The team were a thousandth of a second faster this time. Williams even quicker at the pit stop than in 2016ĭespite this being the first race with the wider tires, Williams undercut their own best time from last year in Melbourne when the tire change on Valtteri Bottas’ car took 2.35 seconds. “It’s a great feeling for us, 'Grazie mille', you can’t say much more,” said the German after the race.įastest pit stops: 2017 FORMULA 1 ROLEX AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX The last time the Scuderia won was 2015 in Singapore. Vettel gave Ferrari their first success in 553 days. We were between a rock and a hard place, really, and we went for it”, Toto Wolff, Head of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport, explained. So that was when, with all the clear risks of coming out in traffic, we took the decision to come in. It was the team’s impression on the pit wall looking at the data and Lewis’ in the car, too. “Sebastian came into the window where the undercut was possible and we had the feeling at that point that the tires were not lasting.
MELBOURNE F1 2017 DRIVER
Since he had had a free run while Hamilton was stuck behind Verstappen, the Ferrari driver kept the lead after his tire change and held on to it for the remainder of the race. Vettel did not complete his only stop of the race until Lap 23. The Mercedes driver dropped down the field behind Max Verstappen on leaving the pit lane and lost valuable time behind the Dutchman, which helped Sebastian Vettel enormously. The race-deciding pit stop took place on Lap 17 when Lewis Hamilton pitted from the lead for fresh tires.
MELBOURNE F1 2017 DRIVERS
Only three drivers stopped twice, Lance Stroll, Daniil Kvyat and Nico Hülkenberg, all the rest were on one-stoppers.
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Thanks to low tire wear, there were only 20 pit stops in all during the season opener in Melbourne. Toro Rosso driver Carlos Sainz was next with a 2.95-second stop and then Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel, 2.98 seconds. Lance Stroll, who was contesting his first grand prix in Melbourne, was sent on his way in 2.65 and then 2.95 seconds. Williams’ consistency as regards pit stops is shown by the fact that the third and fourth quickest tire changes were also completed by the British crew.