Wolff explains Russell's second pit stop at Imola
Toto Wolff sheds light on Mercedes' decision to pit George Russell for a second time during the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, costing him a position to Lewis Hamilton but securing an extra point.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff explained the rationale behind pitting George Russell for a second time at the Imola circuit.
The call ultimately cost Russell a position to teammate Lewis Hamilton, but Wolff defended the decision as a calculated risk to maximize points for the team.
Tyre deg and Red Bull threat
According to Wolff, Mercedes' wear forecasts indicated that Russell might struggle to reach the checkered flag on his current set of hard tires.
With Sergio Perez charging through the field for Red Bull, the team spotted an opportunity to pit Russell, ensuring he stayed ahead of the Mexican driver while also giving him a shot at the coveted fastest lap point.
Wolff elaborated,
"Our wear forecasts showed that he may struggle to make it last to the end of the race on the hard tyre."
"We had the opportunity to pit and get out ahead of Perez, and therefore opted to stop him. That also enabled us to go for the fastest lap point."
Maximizing points haul
While acknowledging the frustration of finishing sixth and seventh, Wolff emphasized the importance of securing every available point in the constructors' championship battle.
"It cost George a place to Lewis, but ultimately the team was able to score an additional point,"
he explained.
Russell's perspective
For Russell, the decision was a bitter pill to swallow initially.
"As a driver, you want to finish [in] the highest position possible, and all weekend I'd been ahead of my teammate,"
he admitted. However, he remained pragmatic, recognizing that the lost position was not for a podium or victory.
Incremental gains and progress
Despite the less-than-ideal result, Wolff saw signs of progress for Mercedes, stating,
"It's not possible to see it in terms of the result, but we have taken a small step forward this weekend."
He emphasized the need for continuous improvement, adding,
"We still have a lot of work to do, and of course, we are all frustrated finishing P6 and P7. There is more to come though, and it is all about making incremental gains."
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