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Mercedes faced a difficult choice towards the end of the Russian Grand Prix: Lewis Hamilton let drive on slicks in the rain, or bring him in for inters, with the chance to throw the win away for good. The latter was chosen, partly due to the choice at Max Verstappen, explains Toto Wolff.
With a few laps to go, it started to trickle onto the Sochi Autodrom. As a result, the teams were faced with a difficult choice. Were they going to bring in their drivers for a set of the intermediate tire or did they take the gamble to finish the race on slicks? Lando Norris, who was in the lead at the time, was willing to take the risk and stayed outside. Mercedes knew that if they went in and it didn’t rain harder, they would definitely win McLaren would give. They eventually chose to call Hamilton in, partly because Verstappen had also gone in.
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Mercedes opted for inters at Hamilton
Grand Prix Russia: Hamilton wins, Verstappen in P2 after chaotic final phaseread more
In conversation with Sky Sports F1 Wolff explains that the decision was made to bring in Hamilton, knowing that the victory might go to Norris. “It started to rain a bit, but only half the circuit was damp. Still we made the call“You have to go in,” says the Austrian team chief. Mercedes made this decision partly because Verstappen had also entered. As a result, the Dutchman was no longer able to finish ahead of Hamilton. Wolff acknowledges that this played a role in the whole story .
“Of course we race against Verstappen,” he says. “It went well for him, but our call became a bit easier because of that.” Hamilton eventually took the win and thus booked his 100th Grand Prix victory. “Nobody in Formula 1 has done this yet. The humane aspect of this is very special,” concludes Wolff.
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