© Sebastian Kawka for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix ltd.
Toto Wolff talks about Mercedes’ Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Qualifying performance and says Lewis Hamilton will be ‘motivated for tomorrow to just hunt Max Verstappen down’.
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Qualifying didn’t go as Mercedes planned, Max Verstappen managed to get pole, and Lewis Hamilton had to settle for P2.
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff says the tow Sergio Perez provided for Max Verstappen was a big reason why he’s on pole.
“They got the tyres in the perfect window in the last run and the tow functioned flawlessly – that’s why they’re on pole,” the Austrian told Sky Sports F1.
When asked what he’s going to say to Lewis ahead of the race, Toto said:
“I think there’s nothing you need to say. I think he’s gonna be angry, and that’s good, and motivated for tomorrow to just hunt him down.
“We are on the back foot and sometimes you need to see the positive. Sometimes that’s not bad as a starting point.”
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Wolff also believes Mercedes has a good chance in the race, because they are starting on medium tyres, while Red Bull is on softs.
“I’d much rather be starting on the Medium. We will have a slight disadvantage on the start, I guess, and the first six or seven laps, if [Verstappen] drives fast.
“We can go longer. We can go for aggressive undercut, also, and try to control track position. Overnight we will be running lots of programmes and algorithms.”
Ultimately, Toto says the faster driver will win tomorrow.
“Whoever’s gonna be faster tomorrow will win the race, irrespective of who starts on which tyre. We just need to need to build on that and recoup.
“And then hopefully come out on top tomorrow,” concluded Mercedes’ team boss.
