The Mercedes team achieved a one-two finish in qualifying for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, putting Lewis Hamilton on pole position, the favorite to clinch the title after the last two wins in Brazil and Qatar. In second position finished Valtteri Bottas, who will serve as a shield for the British to get his third consecutive winner’s trophy.
However, the world leader is still Max Verstappen, who had to settle for third position after making a mistake in the last corner of Jeddah and touching the wall. Red Bull seemed somewhat more hidden during free practice, but were it not for this incident, the Dutchman would almost certainly have set the fastest time.
Polesitter Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, celebrates at Parc Ferme
Photo by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff spoke about the potential the energy drink guys had: “F1 is crazy and full of surprises, they had a very dominant car today. They put the tire in the right operating window. just one lap, and it was difficult for us to have grip”.
“Pole was lost, but Verstappen hit the wall and we ended up with the cars in first and second, and it’s a big advantage for tomorrow,” Wolff said.
Despite the great lap that the championship leader was completing, the great reward on Saturday eluded him. The manager of the Germans said that teamwork was essential to achieve this small triumph in the classification.
“It was an important moment to stay together and keep attacking. You can see Valtteri’s lap and the difference there is, but we have put the cars in the front row and I hope we can finish the job tomorrow,” he commented.
“They have focused on one lap pace, and that has helped them to manage the tire well, and if tomorrow we have that small advantage, who knows?” said the Mercedes boss.
When asked about the possibility of Red Bull appealing the resolution of the investigations to Hamilton (which they will not do as they have indicated from the Austrian team itself), he said: “Everyone fights, in everything, inside and outside the track, so I don’t know what chance they have and what the stewards will say, but it’s only fair that they do.”
“We expected to be much stronger, we have a fast car, but like so many times in the season, it should have been our track and we’ve been met with surprises.”
Wolff believes that Red Bull will go all out in Sunday’s race to maintain its lead over Verstappen in the world championship: “Max has to go all out, and if he stays third after turn 1, it will be a big disadvantage. He has to pass Valtteri and Lewis”.
Mercedes could be the constructors’ world champion , and they only need 40 more points than the Milton Keynes single-seaters to celebrate the title: “It would take us to do a double and for them to abandon, it can happen, but it’s crazy for it to happen” .
“To choose the tyre, we had a discussion, we never got it to the right temperature. However, the energy from the whole team is brutal, and when you walk into the meeting room you don’t even need to speak to feel how excited everyone is. “, he finished.
