Neno wrote:I think Mercedes in Melbourne lacked a bit of confidence in theirself. Last couple of year they had big problems with tires and their first stint was very carefull driving (you could call it slow in moments) from both Mercedes drivers too see if something similar not happend to them again. Later when they could see they can hold it with tires, race was already over for them, both ferrari's pushed red bull and kimi from back watched whole situation and had confidence in himself and car what they can do, specialy Kimi who from beginning set with 2 stop strategy. i think they would have good race if they didnt calculate too much with tires and had confidence in theirself.
Sorry but I think that it was just the opposite, they had too much confidence, its the logic explanation for a strategy of only two pit stops when the majority of teams where choosing three.
Their slower pace in the first stint was due to the strategy, if you want only two pit stops the tyres must last a minimum o laps so you have to adapt your pace to a more gentle use of the tyres.
If they were fearful of tyre degradation the most logic strategy was to make 3 pit stops.