Bahrain Grand Prix winner Sebastian Vettel believed that Mercedes had achieved a strategic “checkmate” against Ferrari when Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton committed to a one-stop strategy.
Vettel initially planned to conduct a two-stop race after pitting for soft tyres on lap 19 of 58. Valtteri Bottas pitted two laps later, instead opting for the medium compound for a comfortable one-stop strategy.
With Bottas and Hamilton setting a competitive pace on the harder tyres, Vettel was forced to convert to a one-stop. He completed the remainder of the race on the soft tyre, holding off Bottas in the closing laps, to seal a second consecutive victory.
“Both Mercedes at the end of the stints were very strong,” said Vettel. “Going onto the medium tyre I thought that was checkmate because we had to come in again. That was the original plan but then we diverted.
“I tried to make the tyres last. I nursed them as much as I could and it worked, but only just. There wasn’t much. At the end of the straight, Valtteri had a bit of a sniff but fortunately he ran out of laps so I’m really happy.”
Pirelli had advised the teams prior to the race that the lifespan of the soft compound was 30 laps. Vettel had to make the compound last 39 laps in order to win the race.
“I think I came on the radio with 10 laps to go and said ‘I have everything under control,’ but I admit that was a lie – there was nothing under control. When they told me the pace of Valtteri at that time, there was no way I could match that.
“I was doing the maths inside the car – 10 laps to go at that kind of pace, I thought he was going to catch me. I really tried to keep it as clean as possible.
“If you manage to get the win under these conditions it tastes even better so really happy.”
