An attritional Austrian Grand Prix delivered heartache at Mercedes, as the team suffered its first mechanical double-DNF in Formula 1’s hybrid era, paving the way for a Max Verstappen win.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff dubbed it as the “worst day” in his six-year tenure at the team.
Having locked-out the front row, Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas comfortably led in the opening stages.
Hydraulic failure struck Bottas’s car early on. His stranded Mercedes triggered a virtual safety car and while the Red Bulls and Ferraris took advantage and made their pitstops, race-leader Hamilton stayed out.
It was a strategic mistake that ultimately dropped him into fourth place and left Verstappen leading the race. He led every lap following Hamilton’s pitstop to claim a fourth career win.
Hamilton’s day continued its deterioration when a fuel pressure problem in the closing laps forced him into retirement.
Mercedes conceded the lead to Ferrari in the constructors’ championship and third-placed Sebastian Vettel regained the lead in the drivers’ standings from the unlucky Hamilton who seemed destined to win while leading early-on.
Here are out DRIVER RATINGS after a drama-filled 2018 Austrian Grand Prix.
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