P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Toto Wolff has admitted Mercedes need to “ramp up our game” to avoid sluggish pit stops after a pair of tardy tyre changes hurt Lewis Hamilton at the F1 United States Grand Prix.
Lewis Hamilton was disqualified from the race due to a breach in plank wear. Prior to that, he led Mercedes to their most competitive showing of the 2023 season, finishing just 2.2 seconds behind Max Verstappen in Austin. Hamilton’s progress was hindered by two slow pit stops, clocked at 3.6 and 3.4 seconds, compared to Verstappen’s fastest tire change at 2.5 seconds. Mercedes boss Wolff acknowledged the need to improve their pit stop performance, stating that they need to avoid very slow pit stops. Hamilton admitted that Mercedes’ strategy and slow pit stops made his race more challenging, but he was positive about their competitiveness and pace.
Source: Crash
