But I don’t think it was him just losing the car like this. It’s a structural issue that we need to understand and that we need to fix for next year.
Wolff also addressed the team’s decision to pit Russell under the Safety Car early in the race, a move which ultimately paid off as the young Briton recovered to finish in the points.
It was a good recovery drive, said Wolff. We had the opportunity to pit him under the Safety Car and it was absolutely the right call. He managed the tyres well, managed the traffic well, and showed what he is capable of.
Overall, it was a disappointing day for Mercedes with Hamilton’s early exit, but there were some positives to take away from Russell’s performance and the team will be looking to bounce back strong in the next race.
It seems like Mercedes is facing some unexpected challenges with their car performance, leading to confusing and frustrating outcomes for both Lewis Hamilton and George Russell. The team is trying to understand the interactions between aero and mechanical components to improve their overall performance. Despite the issues, they are determined to continue with the upgrades to maximize their lap times. The upcoming Mexico City Grand Prix will be another opportunity for the team to make progress and hopefully have a more consistent and successful weekend.