Mercedes achieved ‘perfection’ at Chinese Grand Prix after taking huge risk with Lewis Hamilton
At the 2019 Chinese Grand Prix, Mercedes achieved arguably one of the greatest feats in modern F1 history.
The Shanghai International Circuit has always been balanced between a one- and two-stop race, with weather and track temperature being the determining factors.
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With drivers Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas first and second respectively, the heat was on.
On lap 34 of 56, Red Bull star Max Verstappen pitted for a second time after the team spotted an opportunity to revive its hopes of a podium finish.
A lap later, Ferrari responded and pitted Sebastian Vettel to thwart Red Bull’s bold move that had forced the cars ahead to consider a two-stop strategy.
The sudden change in strategy from Red Bull and Ferrari created a domino effect that sowed doubt in the Mercedes garage.
Silver Arrows team principal Toto Wolf had to assess whether his drivers would last on their tires, or whether grim Verstappen and Vettel would catch up and overtake.
Red Bull’s undercut put Mercedes duo Hamilton and Bottas in jeopardy, with only seconds separating them.
After his second pit stop, a resurgent Vettel was now applying pressure on Bottas with his advantage on new tires.
However, if Mercedes pitted the Finn to defend Vettel’s attack, they risked endangering race leader Lewis Hamilton.
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The Briton would have been an easy target in the face of a barrage of attacks from his teammate and rivals.
On lap 36, Mercedes made the brave decision and decided to pit both drivers against each other with the gap between Hamilton and Bottas reduced to 5.5 seconds at pit entrance.
The team had implemented a daring double stack maneuver.
“Okay, don’t waste my time,” Bottas replied over the radio.
The pit crew flooded the pit lane with double sets of tires wrapped in blankets waiting to pull off the daring move.
Hamilton’s pit stop lasted 2.9 seconds, 3.4 seconds later Bottas arrived at the same spot, his pit stop taking just 2.6 seconds.
“Well, they feel the need to take the risk of a double stack,” said former F1 driver Martin Brundle.
While David Croft added on Sky Sports: “Well, they double up because Bottas comes into the pits, and he’s waiting and they’re absolutely right.
“Valtteri Bottas did not have to slow down more than what was imposed on him with the speed limit of 18 km/h.
“It was perfection. Just as one was going out, another was ready to go back. Like a production line.
Brundle added: “The choreography was sensational. »
The duo set off to finish the race in the top two places ahead of Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
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Perfection might be hard to come by for Mercedes this year, but if they get close, Hamilton and current teammate George Russell will be delighted.
Hamilton is currently having his worst start to an F1 season, while Russell’s campaign was marred by a final lap crash in Australia.
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