Sebastian Vettel believes Mercedes had “nothing to lose” by taking a “huge risk” in making an earlier pit stop at Formula 1’s Mexican Grand Prix.
Charles Leclerc led the early stages and committed to a two-stop strategy, while Vettel and Lewis Hamilton both employed a one-stop approach, as tyre degradation was lower than expected.
Hamilton came in on lap 24 of 71 while leader Vettel remained out until lap 37, with the Briton expressing doubt that he would be able to go to the end.
But once Leclerc made his second stop Hamilton inherited the lead and, despite drawing closer, Vettel was unable to get close enough to mount an attack, as he stayed second.
“Ultimately if you are fair, I think we didn’t have the speed to force the victory, despite the strategy,” said Vettel.
“With hindsight, you are always a bit smarter and obviously Lewis had nothing to lose so he might as well try and it worked for him.
“We expected the tyres to hit the cliff but for him it was fine, he had significantly more laps on it and I think seeing that Valtteri stayed out so long is confirmation for them that it was a huge risk.
“There are these days where it pays off but certainly it was not all knowledge.
“So I don’t think we got beaten on strategy terms, I think they won and got a bit lucky, second they had a bit more speed.”
Vettel added that “at that point of the race fitting the Hards without stopping again was a brave move.
“It could have been either way and speaking to them after the race quickly they had the two stops as their preferred strategy, so as I said if you are in that position you might as well try.”
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