Toto Wolff suggests Mercedes forfeited the Barcelona Grand Prix victory by letting George Russell and Kimi Antonelli battle intensely. The Mercedes team principal believes their internal fight cost the squad crucial time, potentially keeping Lewis Hamilton from benefiting as much from a late-race Virtual Safety Car. Hamilton, on a three-stop strategy, used the VSC to make his final pit stop and emerge in the lead. Wolff indicated that Russell and Antonelli's mid-race skirmishes allowed Hamilton to close an 18-second gap to just 7.6 seconds over six laps. Had they managed their internal racing differently, Mercedes could have built enough of a lead to hold position even after Hamilton's VSC stop. Wolff plans discussions with his drivers, not for blanket team orders, but to manage intra-team racing when a victory is truly on the line against a rival. Russell, however, downplayed the impact, crediting Hamilton's pace and the VSC as the deciding factors. This internal debate sets up a fascinating dynamic as Mercedes pushes for their first win this season.
Read the full story at The RaceWOLFF HINTS MERCEDES MIGHT'VE WON BARCELONA GP WITH TEAM ORDERS
Toto Wolff suggests Mercedes forfeited the Barcelona Grand Prix victory by letting George Russell and Kimi Antonelli battle intensely. The Mercedes team principal believes their internal fight cost the squad crucial time, potentially keeping Lewis Hamilton from benefiting as much from a late-race Virtual Safety Car. Hamilton, on a three-stop strategy, used the VSC to make his final pit stop and emerge in the lead. Wolff indicated that Russell and Antonelli's mid-race skirmishes allowed Hamilton to close an **18-second gap to just 7.6 seconds** over six laps. Had they managed their internal racing differently, Mercedes could have built enough of a lead to hold position even after Hamilton's VSC stop. Wolff plans discussions with his drivers, not for blanket team orders, but to manage intra-team racing when a victory is truly on the line against a rival. Russell, however, downplayed the impact, crediting Hamilton's pace and the VSC as the deciding factors. This internal debate sets up a fascinating dynamic as Mercedes pushes for their first win this season.
