© LAT Images for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd
Lewis Hamilton ignored the first call from Mercedes to switch to intermediate tyres, but Toto Wolff reveals the team was “adamant” to pit him.
In the final moments of the Russian Grand Prix, as it was becoming increasingly clear that the rain would only get worse, Lewis Hamilton got the call from Mercedes to pit for intermediate tyres.
Lewis at first chose to ignore the call, but on the next lap he pitted. Lando Norris, who was in front of him at the time, chose to stay on soft tyres, which cost him the race win and he finished only in P7.
After the race Lewis and Lando had a little chat about the decision.
“My team were great today,” Hamilton told Norris, “but I ignored the first call, I was like, ‘no, he’s right there!'”
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff later revealed that the team insisted Lewis had to pit.
“I think for the driver, it’s always very difficult when half of the track is dry and the other one is just a bit humid,” the Austrian said.
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“We knew that the big weather was coming. So Valtteri [Bottas] pitted the lap before, and then our weather frog and the strategists were adamant to pit.
“We were in a way prepared to brace for the tough end, whether we could overtake Lando on-track or not.
“Then the rain hit, and things got pretty erratic at that stage. I understand why it was so difficult for McLaren to take this decision to stay out or come in.
“As a leader, you can only lose. We benefitted from that today, and it’s spectacular for the fans I guess.”
Wolff adds it’s difficult to say if Lewis would have passed Lando without the late pit stops.
“Lewis was stuck behind Ricciardo at the beginning of the race, although Ricciardo had DRS. I think it would have been difficult to pass. They had a fast car today, and it was well managed from his side.
“They had a bit of a fuel worry, it seemed, and then when he picked up the pace, he was very quick,” concluded the Austrian.
