Chinese Grand Prix podium marks one of two ‘ideal’ instances in F1 for Toto Wolff
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff stated that the podium at Sunday’s Chinese Grand Prix represented one of two “perfect” instances he has experienced in Formula 1.
Mercedes’ 19-year-old talent, Kimi Antonelli, achieved the first grand prix victory of his career in China, finishing ahead of teammate George Russell and former Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton on the podium.
The three were accompanied by Antonelli’s race engineer, Peter Bonington, who also worked with Hamilton during his six drivers’ championships with Mercedes.
Wolff remarked that witnessing all four on the podium was among the highlights of his F1 career, only rivaled by Mercedes’ inaugural one-two finish at his home race in Austria in 2014, when Nico Rosberg and Hamilton were joined on the podium by then-Williams driver Valtteri Bottas, who was also under Wolff’s management.
“There are a few moments that are simply perfect in Formula 1, and I experienced one in 2014, and perhaps this is now the second,” Wolff commented regarding the victory in China.
“Observing the podium, with Kimi winning his first grand prix, achieving a one-two with George — whose race was clearly impacted at the start — Lewis in third, and Bono right in the center of them.
“He has been with Lewis for many years and has played a role in Kimi’s success and development. And then these three spraying champagne on each other on the podium, with Lewis having outperformed [Ferrari teammate Charles] Leclerc, so he was in a positive mood.
“This was just wonderful to witness.”
Antonelli initially lost the race lead to Hamilton at the first corner but regained it by the second lap.
A contest for second place behind Antonelli allowed him to establish a multi-second lead, which Wolff indicated was only at risk from the 19-year-old pushing himself too hard.
Following a lock-up into Turn 14 with a few laps remaining, Wolff contacted Bonington to remind Antonelli to ease off.
“All systems appeared to be functioning well, and in the end, it was fine; it’s just that when Kimi can’t restrain himself, with another fastest lap and another fastest lap,” Wolff explained.
“We are aware of the pattern from Monza, from his first FP1 [when he crashed on his second lap]. So I told Bono, let’s advise him to calm down. He replied, ‘no, I think he’s in a groove.’
“I said, ‘yes, he may be in a groove, but we don’t want him to lose this race.’ Then suddenly, he missed the braking [at Turn 14]. I said, ‘well, yes, now you need to calm down.’
Source: espn.com
