Background Circuit modifications With the technical regulations undergoing a revision for the 2017 season, the FIA requested that every circuit on the calendar undergo revisions to update safety features. Organisers of the race introduced Tecpro barriers to the run-off areas at the fastest points of the circuit, and re-profiled tyre barriers.
Driver changes Before the beginning of the third free practice session,
Sauber announced that
Pascal Wehrlein would not start the race. Wehrlein had sustained a back injury in an accident at the
Race of Champions during the winter pre-season. Although Wehrlein was certified as fit to take part in the Grand Prix ahead of the first practice session, he withdrew as a precaution, citing the increased physical demands of the 2017 specification of cars and the lack of sustained running during pre-season testing as compromising his ability to complete a full race distance. He was replaced by
Antonio Giovinazzi for the third session, qualifying and the race.
Lance Stroll made his Formula One début with
Williams. Giovinazzi and Stroll were the only rookies in the field, with
Stoffel Vandoorne at
McLaren starting his first full season in the sport after a one-off appearance at the
2016 Bahrain Grand Prix and
Esteban Ocon at
Force India starting his first full season in the sport after starting the last 9 races of the season.
Tyres Pirelli supplied the teams with ultrasoft, supersoft and soft tyres. Usually, teams are allowed to choose an individual selection of thirteen different sets for every driver. However, due to the selection deadline falling before the pre-season test when teams were first able to drive with the new compounds, Pirelli allocated every driver the same sets. These were seven sets of ultrasoft, four sets of supersoft and two sets of soft tyres. ==Qualifying==