HT presents an analysis of the action-packed third round of the 2011 Formula One World Championship. McLaren's Lewis Hamilton finally ended his dry spell. Here's how ...
Deciding factor
The outcome of the race was ultimately decided by the difference in the tyre strategy of the McLaren and Red Bull Racing pit wall. After losing out to the fast starting McLarens at the start of the race, Red Bull were put into the position of taking their first gamble with Sebastian Vettel. Hamilton stopped for fresh tyres thrice like almost everyone else in the race but Vettel stopped just twice in an attempt to regain track position over Hamilton.
Star of the race: Mark Webber
The Australian had any chance of a race win taken away from him when he failed to advance from the first session of qualifying. The only thing that played to his advantage was that his race strategy would be kept simple; to go as fast as he possibly could. Webber charged from 18th to finish third, just seven seconds behind race winner Hamilton.