The 2017 f1 regulation change promised an end to Mercedes' dominance over the V6 turbo era. Redbull were choosen as Mercedes's closest competetiors. However, it was Ferrari who made the biggest step forward. With an encouraging winter testing pace, Ferrari arrived in Melbourne with high hopes. Ferrari silenced everyone who questioned them by defeating the until then, unchallenged Mercedes to take victory. At that moment f1 fans for the first time in a while felt that there was genuine championship fight. Getty Ferrari and Vettel's win created an air of excitement in the paddock. Despite both Vettel and Hamilton's dominance in the modern era neither of them had ever gone head to head. Since the Australian grand prix, the championship swung back and forth between the two (though Vettel maintained the lead in the points table). Getty Baku was probably the most dramatic race of the season. The contraversial car chop by Vettel earned him a 10-second stop