(Motorsports news) Ferrari racer Sainz was confident enough to ease off to allow Norris DRS to assist the McLaren driver in defending against the chasing Mercedes until George Russell crashed out on the final lap, giving Lewis Hamilton third place. Despite the Mercedes’ eventual defeat, Wolff stated that he “loved the call” from the strategists and drivers and that the risk of winning the race was worth repeating “every day of the week.”
However, On lap 44 of 62 at Marina Bay, Alpine driver Esteban Ocon broke down at the pit exit, resulting in a virtual safety car. This provided an opportunity for both Mercedes drivers to pit for medium tyres. This gave them a late-race edge in their quest to narrow the gap on eventual winner Carlos Sainz and runner-up Lando Norris, both of whom were riding on old hard Pirellis.
“We tried to win, and we didn’t,” the Austrian stated. “I like the call from the driver and strategy team saying, ‘We’re going for it. The worst-case scenario was second and fifth. In the best-case scenario, we win or come in first and second. And our strategy demonstrated this at times. I think it was the absolute right call,” he continued, “because we would have finished P2, P5, maybe P2, P4, and we wanted to win the race.”
“So Mercedes took the risk, and I would do it every day of the week.” Pre-race strategy simulations based on possible virtual and full safety car timings guided the team. Wolff predicted that the performance will energize Mercedes because “not everything is wrong” with the W14, which he described to as a “surprise box” during the weekend. “Overall, I’m pleased with the performance,” he concluded.
I’m pleased with how the car performed over the weekend, and I believe we gave it our all. “I believe this is a positive… We were so powerful here that we could have won the race. “We could have finished first and second on merit, and that is what we need to take from here, and it clearly will energize us even more that we were strong on this particular track.”
“Not everything is incorrect. But then you see P1 and P2 on the planner and think to yourself, ‘Could have been an incredible day,’ and it isn’t. “But I’d rather focus on the positives of this weekend and return home and say, ‘That was a good one.'”
Also read: Carlos Sainz wins an exciting race: Singapore 2023
