Toto Wolff: “A Nico in top form at Spa”

The arithmetical observation is without appeal. In the space of seven Grands Prix, Lewis Hamilton closed a gap of 43 points on his teammate at Mercedes Nico Rosberg, to point after the last German Grand Prix with a lead of 19 points.

Author of six victories in seven races, the three-time world champion put an end to his poor start to the championship and regained control of the general classification, when the German failed to achieve a victory in Baku and two podiums in England and in Hungary from Monaco.

Despite this delicate pass for the reigning vice-world champion, the star clan remains confident in the ability to see Nico Rosberg return to his level, he who lost again big during the start at Hockenheim, due to 'poor management of the clutch, as stated Toto wolff.

“A bad start which causes you to lose two places, a penalty for “hard racing” which costs you five seconds, which increases to eight due to a stopwatch incident, bad settings which cause your car to wear out the tires…

Taken together, it all adds up to a very bad day, admitted the executive director of the German team. Only in the car there is someone very mentally strong. It might take a few days to recover. but it is a Nico in top form that we will find at Spa. »

If some observers are no longer hiding their concern for Rosberg with a view to the world title, the boss of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport recalls that Lewis Hamilton also experienced a complicated period at the start of the year. “I admire the seesaw between Lewis and Nico, and the way they continue to come back after a setback. » Wolff concludes.

Find the full report and analysis of the German Grand Prix, produced by our special correspondents in Hockenheim, in issue 2074 of AUTOhebdo, available now in digital version, and on newsstands tomorrow.