Toto Wolff: “Two moments we could have lost”

Last Sunday on the Yas Marina Circuit, Mercedes AMG F1 achieved a new double with the victory of Lewis Hamilton ahead of Nico Rosberg, but it was the German driver who won his first world title.

Put under pressure by the strategic choice of his teammate, who had decided to slow down the pace hoping for a return of Red Bull et Ferrari, Rosberg did not flinch, but this situation also caused trouble on the pit wall of the brand with the star.

Seeing the threat VerstappenBut above Hag At the end of the race, Hamilton was ordered by executive director Paddy Lowe himself to increase the pace to ensure success. An order which was not respected by the Briton.

“There were two moments in the race where we were in danger of losing the victory, comments Toto wolff, boss of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport. Firstly, it was not clear that Verstappen was on a one-stop strategy and he was in a good position. Then Sebastian Vettel was driving two seconds faster than us.

Our number one principle for three years is that we want to win, and believe me, it doesn't matter if it's the first race or the last. It is debatable whether this was the correct principle that was applied today from the pit wall, but these two moments made us tell Lewis to increase the pace, because at this stage it seemed that Sebastian was going to win the race. »

Discover the full report and analysis of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, produced by our special correspondents on the Yas Marina Circuit, in AUTO issue 2091hebdo, available now in digital version, and on newsstands.