Optimal strategy and perfect timing at Mercedes

Once again widely attacked by the Team Ferrari, Mercedes AMG F1 achieved a perfect strategy yesterday in the race to overcome the SF70H of Sebastian Vettel, yet author of the best start in Barcelona.

Faced with speed car Italian, the thinking heads of Mercedes have chosen to shift the strategy of their leader Lewis Hamilton, extending the first stint of the triple world champion much later than that of the Maranello driver. In addition, a different choice of tires (medium versus soft) was made by the brand with the star.

The German strategists will continue their perfect score by stopping Hamilton at the end of the virtual safety car procedure, the Briton finally taking his set of soft tires to the end of the Catalan event.

“The VSC arrived and it forced us to rethink our strategy, comments Toto wolff, boss of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport. Our strategy managers then opted to do the opposite of what was planned: enter at the very end of the VSC to prevent Sebastian Vettel's reaction. Our timing was perfect! I take my hat off to James Vowles, (head of strategy) and his guys for this move. »

The predominant role of Valtteri Bottas

If the Finn, who was on board an old Power Unit, after a water leak detected between Friday and Saturday, did not see the finish of the race, victim of a mechanical problem, his resistance against Sebastian Vettel after the The Ferrari driver's first stop was important, with the four-time world champion conceding precious time to overtake the #77 Mercedes.

“Today's victory goes to the whole team: incredible driving from Lewis, good strategic calls, good defensive driving from Valtteri, recognizes Wolff. Valtteri played a big role in Lewis' victory today before his retirement. He couldn't do much after his contact with Kimi at the first corner, but he still maintained his position until the engine failed. »

Discover the full report and analysis of the Spanish Grand Prix, produced by our special correspondents in Catalonia, in issue 2114 of AUTOhebdo, available this evening in digital version, and this Wednesday on newsstands.