Wolff: Vettel pitting led to one-stop approach
14 June 2016 – Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says Ferrari's decision to pit Sebastian Vettel during the Virtual Safety Car period triggered its decision to service Lewis Hamilton only once during the Canadian Grand Prix.
Cool conditions left Mercedes unsure as to whether a one-stop strategy would be possible, and race leader Vettel pitted for Super Soft tyres when Jenson Button's stricken McLaren caused the VSC to be used.
Mercedes kept Hamilton out on an Ultra Soft/Soft strategy and the Briton inherited the lead when Vettel made his second stop for the mandatory Soft compound, after which the pair maintained their positions.
"It was a sensational drive from Lewis to take the win," said Wolff.
"As we went into the race, it wasn't clear whether one stop or two stops would be the way to go in the cold conditions and depending on how the tyres warmed up.
"But when Sebastian stopped behind the VSC, then it was clear that making just one stop was our best chance of winning – and then it was up to Lewis to keep the tyres alive, stretch the stints and do the pace we needed.
"He did a brilliant job of that and, when we could see from other cars on older Soft tyres that they were holding on well, it was clear that the win was really on."
