Wolff delighted with P2 in Mexico: "The win was never on"

Although Mercedes pulled a rabbit out of the hat on Saturday in Mexico and stunned Formula 1 fans with a strong one-two qualifying performance, team boss Toto Wolff knew that victory was not a realistic option at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodriguez.

The Austrian said this after the race which Max Verstappen won brilliantly. The Red Bull was so fast that it is a great achievement for Lewis Hamilton to finish second according to Wolff. In doing so, he kept Sergio Perez at bay.

Mercedes themselves were also surprised by the speed on Saturday. The race made the difference in pace between Red Bull and Mercedes on Saturday and Sunday painfully clear. Motorsportweek.com quotes Wolff: "The win was never on for us, and that’s why taking P2 means winning P2."

Wolff breathes a sigh of relief as he leaves Mexico. The battle between the two teams is extremely close, with only one point difference in the constructors' classification. In Brazil, the German team has another tough race ahead of them.

Wolff therefore concludes: "I think it was damage control from Lewis. It was a tough, but great drive to be honest to hold on to second place."