F1 News

Wolff highlights Mercedes mistake: We didn't time it right

Wolff highlights Mercedes mistake: "We didn't time it right"

05-09-2021 15:54
3

Max Verstappen regained the championship lead after beating Lewis Hamilton at the Dutch Grand Prix. Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff reflects on the race. 

In a conversation with Sky Sports, Wolff admits his team couldn't have done much better with how strong the Red Bull car was. 

"When [they] have the quickest car on track, whatever you try on strategies it's difficult but credit to him and Red Bull, they were flawless today," Wolff said. 

"We had a sniff of an undercut. We didn't time it right, at the end you're always more clever. We didn't expect them to go on the hard tyre, we thought we might be pushing them early with the soft but it is what it is. I think the hard tyre was a gamble. You see on the Ferrari, it was going well. but it was unknown territory."

Valtteri Bottas

Bottas finished on the podium after playing a supportive role. His strong finish means that Mercedes stay ahead in the constructors championship. However, Mercedes pitted their driver towards the end and he ended up pinching the fastest lap point. In the end, Hamilton regained it but it could be the first signs of an unsupportive Bottas in the second half of the season. 

"I think his tyres were shot. We couldn't hold him back, a one-stop was then never on the books. He was backing off, we just wanted to make sure it's not happening hence why we reemphasised on the radio," Wolff added.