© Steve Etherington for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd.
In the final laps of the Mexican Grand Prix, Max Verstappen blocked Valtteri Bottas’ first attempt to take the fastest lap from him. Toto Wolff gives his comments.
Max Verstappen was well on his way to winning the Mexican Grand Prix and taking an extra point for fastest lap, when Mercedes decided to put Valtteri Bottas on fresh soft tyres in an attempt to take the point from the Dutch driver.
Since Bottas was outside the top ten at the time, he was not eligible to get the fastest lap point for himself, but it was important for Lewis Hamilton’s title fight to prevent Max from geting it.
However when Bottas made his first attempt to get the fastest lap, he came upon Verstappen, who had already lapped him.
At that point Max, who wanted to keep the point for himself, decided to play a little game and deliberately slowed Valtteri down to ruin his lap. Bottas immediately informed his team.
“He’s slowing me down,” the Finn said.
Mercedes then pitted Bottas again and let him get out when the track was clear. He ultimately did get the fastest lap in the final lap of the race.
If you like SilverArrows.Net, consider supporting us by buying us a coffee!
At the post-race press conference Verstappen gave his comments on the situation.
“Well, I mean I can understand, of course, they go for the fastest lap,” he said.
“So, the first time it didn’t work out but we played it safe, I think. We were side by side but it was all good. We lost a lot of time but it was alright, to be honest, for me.
“I know Valtteri, he’s a clean driver anyway and I never was in doubt that something would happen,” concluded the Dutch driver.
Later Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff also gave his comments.
“Yeah, it was a bit of playing around,” the Austrian said.
“Max was aware that Valtteri was going for quickest lap and he then slowed him down, which is absolutely on, he can do that.
“So we went for another set, and this time in free air grabbed that fastest lap back,” Wolff concluded.
