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There was a mix
of tyre strategies in play at Montreal, with three different teams on the
podium and two different philosophies on strategy.
Ferrari’s race winner Sebastian Vettel and Mercedes runner-up Valtteri
Bottas both started on the ultrasoft and then switched to the supersoft at
around the same time.
The two Red Bull drivers in third and fourth went the opposite route,
carrying out a shorter first stint on the hypersoft and then switching to
the supersoft for the run to the flag. Throughout the frontrunners’ battles
with their direct rivals, the timing of the pit stops was also an important
consideration, with many drivers attempting an ‘undercut’ in a close
strategic duel. Haas driver Romain Grosjean, who dropped to the back of the
grid after a problem in qualifying, completed an extremely long first stint
on the ultrasoft before finishing just outside the points on the supersoft.
MARIO ISOLA - HEAD OF CAR RACING
“The strategy was really dictated by qualifying yesterday, with the early
safety car period here also ensuring that a one-stopper became the way to
go, on top of the low wear and degradation seen on this track generally. All
three nominated compounds were used extensively during the race, with
different thinking on strategy all the way down the grid. A number of
drivers, notably Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo and Haas driver Romain Grosjean
were able to use strategy to boost their grid positions. The championship
has now taken another twist, which makes it even more interesting as we head
next to a completely new venue at Paul Ricard in France.”
TRUTHOMETER
We predicted a one-stopper to be the theoretically quickest way to complete
the race and this turned out to be exactly the case. Vettel made his sole
pit stop on lap 37 from ultrasoft to supersoft, having built up enough of a
margin not to lose the lead of the race. |
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