Wolff makes prediction: "We can take that risk" with Hamilton
F1 News
- GPblog.com
For Mercedes, the qualifying for the Monaco Grand Prix was one to forget. Although Valtteri Bottas did manage third place, Lewis Hamilton was not in the right rhythm and seventh place was the best he could achieve. Toto Wolff has some concerns for Sunday, as Monaco is not the place to make up for a bad qualifying session.
"On the track we can't take much risk, because seventh place is worth six points anyway and we'd rather have six points than no points. If Max wins the race or comes second, the gap will still be big enough," Wolff acknowledged in conversation with Autosport. But in the strategic department of Mercedes they do dare to take risks.
Taking strategic risks
"So on the track we don't, but if you look at the strategy, we can take that risk. We do have limits of course, because of traffic. However, we do have a car that is faster than seventh position". Bottas also proved that with a third place, but at some distance from Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen. Due to the crash of Leclerc Carlos Sainz had to abort his fast lap and that cost him third place.
There is now a Mercedes there, but not Hamilton's. In the race, Mercedes will take risks with Hamilton, as Wolff himself sees that the starting position gives a wrong picture. "If we can finish in a better position, that would be very nice. Monaco is obviously not the place where you have a lot of opportunities to overtake."