Mercedes’ decision to stop Hamilton several laps later than 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Max Verstappen ultimately proved𝄹 costly in the fight for the v👍ictory.

Mercedes were weigh൲ing up a possible oꦗne-stop strategy when Red Bull and McLaren committed to a two-stop with their early stop.

When Hamilton eventually pitted, he rejoined over six seconds behind Verstappen - a gap he ✤strugg🦂led to make up.

• “That’s what lost the race” - Wolff concedes strategy cost Hamilton likely 💦win

Reflecting on the various strategies in 𒈔play, H𒁃orner gave his view on Mercedes’ indecision between the two strategy choices.

"Before the race all our simulations were telling us two stop was the fastest race for us, so that's what we committed to,” Horner said. “The debate was do we run t🐎he hard [tyre] in the middle stint or the med🙈ium. 

“We knew going up against Lando that they'd committed to the two hards, so we knew going me𝓡dဣium-medium it was crucial for Max to make use of that to get the pass done and get the track position and then run our fastest race to the end of the race. 

“I think Mercedes f🌳ound themselves in no man's land today. They sort of attempted a one [stop], aborted, and then took the better tyre, the medium tyre, for the fꦉinal stint. 

“But thankful🌳ly we had just enougꩵh to hold them off.”

Verstappen’s race was also compromi𝕴sed by a recurring brake issue.

“He was managing a brakﷺe issue throughou▨t the race,” Horner added.

“You could hear, he wasn't happy about 🐟the brakes, and when you've got that issue you are building in a bit of a margin.

“So I think all his focus was 𒁃on that and he knew very well what th🃏e gap was and he was managing that.”