Wolff: Merc fastest of ‘F2 cars’ in Hungary

BUDAPEST, Hungary — The efficiency of Max Verstappen and Crimson Bull is in a distinct class in comparison with the remainder of the System One discipline, Mercedes group principal Toto Wolff mentioned on Sunday.

Verstappen gained Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix 33.7 seconds forward of his nearest rival Lando Norris, with Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton an additional 5 seconds off in fourth place.

The Dutchman’s victory was a record-breaking twelfth in a row for Crimson Bull and prolonged his lead within the championship to 110 factors over teammate Sergio Perez.

Wolff believes Hamilton had the potential to safe second place in Hungary had he pushed tougher early within the race, however mentioned the efficiency of Verstappen and Crimson Bull gave the true context of how far Mercedes is off the tempo.

“We are able to speak one another up and say we might have been or would have been second, however in a manner that’s irrelevant as a result of you could have a automobile in entrance that’s 34 seconds clear and doubtless he was cruising for a very long time,” Wolff mentioned “That is the bitter actuality.”

He went on to liken the hole in efficiency between Verstappen and the remainder of the sector to the hole between an F1 automobile and a System 2 automobile.

“We have been fast when it comes to the F2 pack,” Wolff added. “The F1 automobile gained by 34 seconds.

“I believe we had the second quickest automobile immediately however the outcome would not present it. In principle we had the second quickest automobile and we did not monetise on it immediately, and that is all the time disappointing.

“We have been too cautious in bringing the tyres in. After the stops we misplaced quite a lot of time.

“It paid off in the direction of the top of the stint, as a result of we have been miles faster than all people else nevertheless it’s all the time a steadiness and I consider the steadiness was slightly bit an excessive amount of when it comes to bringing them in.

“We’ve got bought to learn the way we might have performed that higher.”