(Pirelli Motorsport Media)
Scuderia Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel put a two stop strategy
to good use to claim his first victory as a driver for Maranello based team
while the Italian outfit secured their first win since the 2013 Spanish Grand
Prix.
Vettel started the race on the White walled Medium compound
tyre and switched to a second set of the Medium compound tyre on lap 17. The
German made his final stop of the day on lap 37 for a set of the Orange walled
Hard compound tyre. Reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton used a three stop
strategy which helped him to finish the race in second place behind Vettel.
The double world champion started the race from pole
position a set of the Medium compound tyre. He made his first stop of the race
on lap 4 for a new set of the Hard compound tyre. He stopped again on lap 24
for a new set of the Medium compound tyre before making his final stop on lap
38 for a set of new Hard tyres.
Mercedes AMG PETRONAS F1 Team’s Nico Rosberg made his first
stop on lap 4 of the race for a set of used Medium compound tyres. The German
made his second stop on lap 26 for a set of new Hard tyres before making his
final stop on lap 41 for a set of new Medium tyres.
Sebastian Vettel, Carlos Sainz and Sergio ‘Checco’ Perez
were the only drivers who completed the race using a two stop strategy.
A two stop strategy was the norm for the Malaysian Grand
Prix, however the Sauber F1 Team’s Felipe Nasr made 4 stops on lap 2 (New
Hard), 20 (New Hard), 30 (New Hard) and 43(Medium New). Speaking following the
race, Pirelli Motorsport Director Paul Hembery stated:
'I think we did our bit today. We saw a great strategic battle between Ferrari and Mercedes, with two different approaches to the race, which were also influenced by an early safety car period. Despite the highest track temperatures we are likely to see all year, the tyres did not suffer from blistering or graining, enabling a two-stop strategy to be not only possible, but victorious. The different tyre strategies available set up an exciting battle for the race victory and underlined the difference that using the tyres to the best effect can make. Congratulations to Ferrari and Sebastian Vettel for a truly memorable victory.'
© Ben Johnston 2015
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