Wolff: Making a one-stop work will be the challenge

  • Published on 22 Jun 2019 16:22
  • comments 2
  • By: Fergal Walsh

Toto Wolff believes the biggest challenge awaiting Mercedes heading into the French Grand Prix on Sunday is completing the race on one pit stop.

Mercedes secured another front row lockout as Lewis Hamilton took pole position ahead of Valtteri Bottas, the gap almost three-tenths of a second between the pair.

MOREQualifying: Hamilton on pole as Mercedes locks out front row | Hamilton: Tyres too hard to offer more than one pit stop

The Silver Arrows have consistently been the quickest team throughout the weekend, and will be the clear favourites heading into Sunday's race, having shown strong long run pace on Friday.

But Wolff says that Mercedes must work to ensure they make their tyres last during the race, as not doing so could see issues emerge.

"It was a good qualifying session," Wolff told Sky F1. "We have lots of downforce and you can see that on a track like this. But the challenge is tomorrow, to bring the tyres to the end and finish the race on a good note.

"You need to have just one pit stop because you lose more than 23 seconds when you stop. So it's about having a good race, having reliability and bringing a race that should suit our car. But we know the race happens on Sunday so we need to finish it first."

Wolff says that gusts of wind hit the circuit towards the end which impacted the drivers ability to improve. However, Hamilton was able to further extend his gap over Bottas, which Wolff hailed.

"In the last lap he [Hamilton] took it away," Wolff said. "We had some gusts, and no one really improved, only Lewis. Maybe that's the difference." 

Replies (2)

Login to reply
  • Quit the prattle, Toto.

    • + 0
    • Jun 22 2019 - 19:59
  • abhidbgt

    Posts: 283

    If they feel that this season isn't wrapped up then that's just wrong feeling.

    • + 0
    • Jun 22 2019 - 20:29

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 18:39

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 18:39

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2 2024
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9 2024
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24 2024
Australia
5 - Apr 7 2024
Japan
19 - Apr 21 2024
China
3 - May 5 2024
United States of America
17 - May 19 2024
Italy
24 - May 26 2024
Monaco
7 - Jun 9 2024
Canada
21 - Jun 23 2024
Spain
28 - Jun 30 2024
Austria
5 - Jul 7 2024
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21 2024
Hungary
26 - Jul 28 2024
Belgium
23 - Aug 25 2024
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1 2024
Italy
13 - Sep 15 2024
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22 2024
Singapore
18 - Oct 20 2024
United States of America
25 - Oct 27 2024
Mexico
1 - Nov 3 2024
Brazil
22 - Nov 24 2024
United States of America
29 - Dec 1 2024
Qatar
6 - Dec 8 2024
United Arab Emirates
-
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2 2024
7 - Mar 9 2024
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24 2024
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7 2024
19 - Apr 21 2024
3 - May 5 2024
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19 2024
24 - May 26 2024
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9 2024
21 - Jun 23 2024
28 - Jun 30 2024
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7 2024
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21 2024
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28 2024
23 - Aug 25 2024
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1 2024
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15 2024
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22 2024
18 - Oct 20 2024
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27 2024
1 - Nov 3 2024
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24 2024
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1 2024
6 - Dec 8 2024
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
-
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team -
  • Points -
  • Podiums -
  • Grand Prix -
  • Country AT
  • Date of b. Jan 12 1972 (53)
  • Place of b. Vienne, Austria, AT
  • Weight 0 kg
  • Length 0 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar