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Mercedes Monaco result was "damage limitation"

18:35, 29 May 2018

byJake Williams-Smith

Toto Wolff believes that Mercedes' result in Monaco was a case of "damage limitation". The Silver Arrows have struggled around the streets for the past few seasons and with stronger rivals in 2018 in Red Bull and Ferrari, Wolff acknowledged that it was an off weekend for the champions.

“I would say as much as we like to win races you need to also be conscious enough that there will be days when it’s more difficult,” said Wolff.

“It’s damage limitation, third and fifth I would have taken before the weekend. But then our own expectations, you always want to aim higher.

“Lewis suffered from graining on both tyre compounds which he had to manage through most of the race.

“We discussed making another stop but it would only have cost us positions, not gained any, so it was the right call to stay out.

“We could have pitted Valtteri (under the Virtual Safety Car) and he wouldn't have lost a position and he would have been on a fresh tyre towards the end.

“But we didn’t have any Supersofts anymore for him, we didn’t want to put him on the hyper or the ultra and it wouldn’t have changed anything for him.

“You could see that even if you have a five-second lap time advantage you will not overtake unless something happens, so it didn't make any difference.”