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A variety of different two-stop
and three-stop strategies characterised the battle
for the podium at the Spanish Grand Prix sponsored by Pirelli: a closely
poised race where tyre strategy made a crucial difference.
While Nico Rosberg led from start to finish for the first time all year,
stopping just twice, his Mercedes team mate Lewis Hamilton went head-to-head
against Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel on opposing tyre strategies.
Hamilton adopted a three-stop strategy, after dropping some places at the
start. Vettel stuck with a two-stop strategy meaning that he had to hold of
Hamilton’s faster car in the closing stages of the race, once more
guaranteeing a thrilling finale.
Rosberg used the medium-medium-hard strategy that we predicted as being the
most likely scenario before the start of the race, eventually winning by
half a minute. In fact, all the drivers chose to start the grand prix on the
medium tyre, which was up to 1.5 seconds faster than the hard compound in
Friday’s second free practice session.
Hamilton, however, converted to a three-stopper – with two opening stints on
the medium and then a penultimate stint on the hard tyre, which gave him the
flexibility not to have to stop again if necessary.
Williams driver Felipe Massa was the only driver to use the same strategy as
Hamilton, ending up sixth from ninth on the grid.
After a disappointing qualifying, Kimi Raikkonen adopted an alternative
two-stop strategy. The Finn used the hard tyre for his middle stint with the
aim of benefitting from the extra speed of the medium at the end of the
race, in a battle against his countryman Valtteri Bottas (Williams).
With wear and degradation very much in line with expectations, both two and
three stops were equally possible, with drivers and teams able to adapt
their strategies to suit their particular race circumstances.
The teams will now remain in Barcelona for the first in-season test on
Tuesday and Wednesday, where a number of third drivers will be taking the
wheel as well as the regular pilots.
Paul Hembery, Pirelli motorsport director: “Strategy was clearly at
the forefront of the Spanish Grand Prix, with a fascinating and complex
battle between Mercedes and Ferrari. The nominations we made opened up a
number of different possibilities, enabling each team to make the most of
their potential. Despite the demanding conditions of the Montmelo track and
significant track temperatures, both compounds performed perfectly, showed
very little graining and no blistering, helping every driver to maximise his
chosen strategy. We look forward now to the test, which will help us gather
more data to shape future tyre development.”
Truth-O-Meter:
We predicted a two-stopper as the most likely winning scenario for the
66-lap race, and this is what Rosberg went for. Our prediction said that
after starting on medium, it would be quickest to stop for mediums again on
lap 23 and then hard tyres on lap 50. In the end, Rosberg followed the
pattern we predicted but stopped on laps 15 and 45. |
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