Mercedes F1 reflects on Spa, where strategy shone despite a double win slipping away.
Shortly after the conclusion of the Belgian Grand Prix, Toto Wolff expressed satisfaction with George Russell’s masterful performance, who crossed the finish line first following a one-stop strategy. Despite the Mercedes F1 driver’s subsequent disqualification, the team principal was content with this tactical gamble.
“At one point, George looked set for fifth place, so we took a risk [with one stop]. He reported that the tyres were holding up well, so we extended their stint,” Wolff remarked. “We hadn’t foreseen [the victory] at all. We were struggling on Friday, thinking a podium would be a good outcome.”
“We managed the tyres well, the pace was strong, and it worked out well with both one and two stops. Our decisions were sound,” continued Wolff, explaining his hesitation to let Lewis Hamilton pass to shield him from Oscar Piastri. “Towards the end, we were unsure what to do as Piastri was closing fast, but it turned out to be the right decision.”
Andrew Shovlin, the team’s trackside engineering director, commented on Russell’s disqualification: “It’s incredibly tough for George to be disqualified from a victory after such an impressive race.”
“He did a brilliant job conserving his tyres and holding his position to the end. We don’t yet fully understand why the car was underweight post-race, but we will investigate thoroughly to find an explanation.”
“We think that the tyre wear during the sole pit stop was a contributing factor, and we are working to understand how this happened. We won’t be looking for excuses, though. Clearly, it’s not enough, and we must ensure it doesn’t happen again.”
Fortunately for Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton was in second place to claim the victory, a point Shovlin was quick to celebrate: “It was a relief to have Lewis in position to inherit the win. He also drove a solid race and was the fastest of the two-stoppers.”
“We can be pleased with the car’s pace, but overall, it’s disappointing not to come away with a double victory. This is especially true after such a strong recovery from one of our most challenging Fridays, and after a race that was so well managed by the team. We will learn from this and come back stronger at Zandvoort after the summer break.”
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Spa Victory Eludes Mercedes Strategy Holds Spa Victory Eludes Mercedes Strategy Holds
