© LAT Images for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd
Toto Wolff answers critics who say Mercedes shouldn’t have celebrated their victory at the British Grand Prix, since Max Verstappen was in the hospital.
Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen clashed in the first lap of the British Grand Prix, which ultimately led to a high-speed crash for the Dutch driver.
Lewis was later able to win the race and seriously decrease Verstappen and Red Bull’s lead in the championship.
Mercedes was obviously overjoyed about the result, especially since it was Lewis’ home race, so they all had a spectacular celebration.
However, some said, including Max Verstappen, that it was “disrespectful” to celebrate while he was still being checked out at the hospital.
The truth is that at that point there was no fear that Verstappen has suffered serious injuries, since, although shaken in the immediate aftermath of the crash, he seemed to be in good shape, and the hospital tests were only a precautionary measure.
Post-race Toto Wolff was asked if he was able to enjoy the celebration, considering what had happened with Max.
“Yes, absolutely because these incidents exist,” the Austrian told Sky Italia.
“I’m happy Max feels quite good, we’re happy to have won and got P3. For that, it’s a nice day.”
For the crash Hamilton was handed a 10-second penalty, which many are saying was not deserved, as the collision looked like a classic racing incident.
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“It’s difficult for the Stewards, because it’s the regulation that says that when the car has the two front wheels at the middle of the other car, the corner is yours,” Wolff said.
“But on the other side, it’s a very fast corner. For that they normally have to leave space, there was no space and there was this collision.”
Now Mercedes sits only four points behind Red Bull, and Hamilton eight points behind Verstappen in the championship standings. The fight is now truly on.
“It’s important. The championship is open, it was open also before the race because we’ve done just 10 races, we’re not halfway through the season yet. For that everything is open.
“We lack a bit of speed, all our package is not as fast as theirs. But you can make great points, as today, even if you go less fast.
“For that, I’m happy, and we have to push,” concluded Wolff.
Mercedes’ Trackside Engineering Director Andrew Shovlin agrees.
“We came here to win and to close the gap in the championships so we should be very satisfied with our work this weekend,” the Briton said after the race.
“We’re nearly half-way through and there’s hardly anything in it, we know that Red Bull are going to bounce back strong, so from first thing tomorrow morning we’ll be putting all our efforts into the next race in Budapest.”
