Hamilton won and regained the lead, but they are only two points clear. In addition, Verstappen rallied to second place when he started last and takes on the seven races that will define the season with a fresh, newly changed Honda engine. If the mechanics now fail Sir Lewis, or if he must take a penalty in the grand prix ahead, the Dutchman can hit qualifying. For now Max sees it “50-50, yes or no.” All or nothing.
The English agrees: “It will be difficult, in two thirds of the season they have been in front but it is difficult, everything is to be decided in the next races. Good circuits are coming and I anticipate that it will be very tight between us. “The income in Russia, a favorable track, has not been as expected:” There have been many races that we have not maximized as a team, nor both drivers, but we continue in the fight and We can improve. ”Among questionable decisions from Brackley’s garage, they changed the engine to Bottas to hinder Verstappen, but the Finn lasted few rounds at Red Bull and finished out of points.
“I was not convinced to go to the pits”
However, Lewis does acknowledge that it was Mercedes who opted to stop and mount intermediate tires when they were chasing Norris. “I can’t sign up for that decision, it belonged to the team. I was in no man’s land and I didn’t know how the race was going. When I caught up with Lando the grip was pretty good, then he lost control at turn five and I got closer. But then they told me to go to the pits and I said to myself, ‘it can’t be’, three laps to go back 24 seconds. I wasn’t convinced, but when it started to rain more on the next lap I did see it, and I got in. “Norris didn’t and lost the race.