Monte Carlo: Mercedes team chief Toto Wolff on Monday praised Lewis Hamilton’s “superb drive” for exploiting an aggressive strategy in Sunday’s Monaco Grand Prix and making their team relationship stronger than ever.
Wolff said Hamilton’s flawless driving in the wet-and-dry conditions throughout 78 laps of the unforgiving barrier-lined Mediterranean street circuit was “just what the doctor ordered.”
Hamilton, who demonstrated supreme tyre-management and race-craft, said it was his “best ever” win and the one that made him feel “in my heart, that I earned.”
The win ended a run of eight races without a win, littered with accidents and mechanical and technical failures, over seven months since he clinched his third world title in Texas last October.
That barren spell had culminated in a fractious first lap collision with championship-leading teammate Nico Rosberg at the Spanish Grand Prix.
“These last couple of weeks have strengthened him and strengthened our relationship,” said Wolff. “That’s how I perceive it.
“If you go through really bad times together, it can build the relationship and give it even more strength.
“We had many discussions, and difficult moments, but in the end, this is just what the doctor ordered.
“We needed that win and that’s why we put Nathan [Divey] on the podium, his number one mechanic.’
Hamilton’s win, together with championship-leading teammate Nico Rosberg’s disappointing drive to seventh, enabled him to cut the German’s lead from 43 points to 24 after six races.
The team asked Rosberg, struggling while running second in the early stages, to let Hamilton pass him, a request that he complied with. “I said ‘thanks for being a gentleman,’” said Hamilton.
“Although I feel, with Nico, it wasn’t going well for him, it is a big relief that we were able to score that win with Lewis after such a terrible streak of bad luck,” said Wolff.
The Austrian also praised Hamilton’s skill in support of their decision to keep him out on full wet tyres until lap 31 when he pitted for ultra-softs, without stopping for intermediates. “We had a really aggressive strategy, which we discussed for a long time,” he said. “We had time to eat up — we gambled.
“The gamble worked and then the mishap of the Red Bull boys — and Lewis’ superb drive — gave us the win. It’s just what we needed.”
He said the decision not to go for intermediates was a joint decision involving Hamilton and his engineers.
“There was a discussion on the pit wall,” he said.
“And it was also great team play from Nico because he knew he was lacking pace, more than usual. “He was holding Lewis up very badly, so he let him by.”
Two weeks on from their dismal day at the Circuit de Catalunya, Rosberg’s unselfish move released Hamilton and restored team unity. It may also have reignited Hamilton’s title challenge.
