• Australian Grand Prix

Pit stop strategies will be the same in Melbourne

Williams will be one stopping in Melbourne and the other teams are expected to do the same © Sutton Images

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• Race:
• Australian Grand Prix

• Championship:
• FIA Formula One World Championship

• Drivers:
• Rubens Barrichello

• Teams:
• Williams

One-stop strategies are likely to be the norm in Australia according to Williams technical director Sam Michael.

At the first grand prix in Bahrain, this year's ban on refuelling was widely criticised for taking the tactical element out of the sport and resulting in boring one-stop strategies. The temporary Albert Park circuit in Melbourne is a very different style of track to Bahrain and its lack of use means it has a lower grip level than permanent venues. However, any hopes that the teams might choose to change their tyre strategy as a result have been scotched by Michael.

"In terms of strategy, Bahrain gave a good indication as to what will be the most likely pit strategy for Melbourne," he said. "It's going to be a really interesting weekend in terms of seeing how the teams perform on such a different track in comparison to Sakhir. Albert Park is a low-grip street circuit, and you're normally on the limit when it comes to tyre graining. As a result, careful management of car set-up throughout the weekend is a pre-requisite."

Williams driver Rubens Barrichello is confident the tight circuit, which is prone to accidents and safety car periods, will offer a good show for the fans.

"Melbourne is a great place for a grand prix," he said. "The racing is always competitive so it's a good track from a fan perspective; it's also a very social city so it's nice to hang out there. I like Albert Park a lot. It doesn't really feel like a street circuit, it's very challenging and has some interesting corners to negotiate. We had some minor problems in Bahrain but we have resolved them now for Australia. I'm positive we will have a stronger race this weekend."

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