Overtaking moves fell by 47% during races in 2017 according to data published by Pirelli.

Formula One’s official tyre supplier recorded the lowest average number of passes per race since it returned into the sport in 2011.

It claimed 435 overtaking moves were performed during the 20-race season, an average of 21.75 per race. This compares to 866 passes during the 21-race 2016 season, an average of 41.23 passes per race.

More overtaking moves were also recorded in the 2015 season which saw 509 passes in 19 races, an average of 26.79 overtaking moves per race.

Overtaking was widely expected to be more difficult in 2017 because of the changes to the technical rules which resulted in cars producing more downforce. Pirelli also created a more durable range of tyres this season, but says its 2018 rubber will be less “conservative”.

NB. 24 cars in 2011-12, 22 cars in 2013-14, 20 cars in 2015, 22 cars in 2016, 20 cars in 2017

The most overtaking moves in a race this season was recording in Azerbaijan, which saw 42 passes. However Pirelli only recorded a single on-track overtake during the Russian Grand Prix. There were 31 passes during the rain-affected Chinese Grand Prix.

Daniel Ricciardo completed the most passes during the season with 43. He also made the most passes in a single race, performing 13 passes during the British Grand Prix. His team mate Max Verstappen was one of two drivers who was overtaken least: He and world champion Lewis Hamilton were only passed twice all season.

Red Bull made the most passes of any team with 65. They were also the least-overtaken team, along with Ferrari, as each was only passed 11 times.

Pirelli defined an overtaking move as “one that takes place during complete flying laps (so not on the opening lap) and is then maintained all the way to the lap’s finish line” and did not include position changes due to major mechanical problems, lapping and un-lapping.

2017 F1 season