Yesterday at 13:40
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has explained the humorous
present he sent to Williams boss James Vowles after the Azerbaijan
Grand Prix. Williams enjoyed a successful race in Baku with Carlos
Sainz, who crossed the line in third place to secure his maiden
podium with the team. The Spaniard has endured a tough campaign
since joining the squad at the start of the season, but produced a
mature drive to bag Williams' first podium in four years. After the
race, Vowles received a gift from Wolff with a message attached
reading: "Lucky bastard! Congrats on your first podium as a TP."
Wolff asserted it was a tongue-in-cheek message and praised Vowles'
input at the squad. "The lucky bastard is more jovial," Wolff told
media including RacingNews365 . "As team principals, we get lots of
the criticism, but also the glory, when others are doing a great
job. "And I'm 100 per cent convinced that James is a great
contributor to the team's success, and to the long-term thinking.
"Everybody delivered. The driver delivered. The pit stops were good
overall. It's a trajectory that I enjoy seeing with him and for the
team." Vowles worked closely with Wolff at Mercedes before taking
on the team boss role two and a half years ago. Having started from
the front row, Sainz slipped to third behind Mercedes' George
Russell. Vowles conceded there was little the 31-year-old could do
to keep Russell behind. "Just an exceptional drive by him," Vowles
told Sky F1 . "Lap after lap, he just built the pace. "We knew
Mercedes was quick, but well done to him. He didn't put a foot
wrong all weekend."
