Mercedes predicts a battle of strategy is on the cards against Max Verstappen on race day at the Dutch Grand Prix.
Though the Red Bull driver will start on pole at Zandvoort, the Brackley-based team will have both Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas right behind whereas Verstappen’s teammate Sergio Perez starts near the back of the grid.
And though they admit fourth-placed Pierre Gasly could be a “shadow car” in his AlphaTauri, Mercedes hope to use that car advantage to pull a Paul Ricard but this time in their favour.
“We’re P2 and P3, that’s a good starting point,” said team boss Toto Wolff.
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“In the race, it’s going be about survival on a one-stop. Max needs to make a decision, is he going for a one-stop or is he going for two?
“We can play both strategies tomorrow, and we’ve seen that two cars can actually go totally different [on strategy] and suddenly we’ll be pitting one, undercutting, massive pressure leaving the other out, and then finishing one-two!”
Verstappen though was faster than Mercedes in the race simulation on Friday, meaning their best chance to attack the Red Bull may well be on the opening lap.
However, Wolff is very keen to avoid any repeat of Silverstone or Budapest.
“No, we won’t be discussing the strategy for turn one or two,” he said.
“The drivers are going to discuss with their respective engineers about various possibilities of plays, but we don’t need to refer back to them on how to drive or what is at stake, because they know best. So we are not going to address that.
“I hope we have a great race [with Verstappen],” he added. “I think if something were to happen tomorrow, even if we’re not at fault, they [the Dutch fans] would be firing those orange flares at us!”
