F1 News
Wolff on Hamilton's bold choice: "That's why that move was so brave"
- GPblog.com
Lewis Hamilton managed to take his third win of the season last Sunday, mainly thanks to Mercedes' strategy. By bringing the world champion in for a second pit stop, Hamilton was able to overtake Max Verstappen at the end of the race.
Bold move
Verstappen himself did not go in for a second stop and on his old tyres could not keep Hamilton behind. Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff doubts Hamilton would have got past without the two-stop strategy. "It's just so difficult to overtake here," the Austrian told Formel1.de.
"That's why that move was so brave," Wolff continued. "Not only brave from the strategists, but also from Lewis. You're right in the gearbox of the guy in front of you and then the strategy team says to you: 'Pit now!' And, bang, you go." At that point, it was by no means certain that the strategy would work. "The confidence he has in the team is great".
Same done as Red Bull
Verstappen, unlike Hamilton, did not come in for a second stop, which likely cost him the race. Still, Wolff thinks he would have done the same in that position. "You can't give up your track position - especially with twenty laps to go. There's just too much risk," he defends Red Bull's choice. "That's why driving up front is more complicated. We probably would have done the same," he admitted.