Mercedes' chief strategist James Vowles has given some insight into the strategy decisions his team took during the Australian Grand Prix.
Lewis Hamilton lost the lead, and ultimately victory, to Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel during the race's pit stop window between lap 17 and lap 26. Hamilton pitted relatively early on lap 17 in order to try to fend off a Ferrari attack, but ended up losing crucial time when he rejoined the race fifth and got stuck behind Red Bull's Max Verstappen. That allowed Vettel to build up a enough of a gap in clear air at the front to pit and retain the lead on lap 23.