Mercedes explain costly Brazilian GP decision

Mercedes has addressed the costly decision to make a pit stop shortly before a red flag was deployed at the São Paulo Grand Prix.

George Russell led the opening 28 laps of the race, which was placed under a virtual safety car (VSC) when Nico Hulkenberg stopped at the side of the track.

Mercedes opted to pit Russell as the VSC was ending, causing him to lose a handful of positions.

Although the cars ahead were yet to pit, the group - including eventual race-winner Max Verstappen and Alpine podium duo Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly - was granted free stops when a red flag was deployed a number of laps later.

Mercedes trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin revealed the team had a very short window to make the decision to pit.

“I think with hindsight, you would manage most races differently," said Shovlin. "But certainly, in this case, we would have done.

“One of the key things is once they announced that the VSC was ending, we had a very, very short window, only a second or two, where we could have got George to stay out on track.

“The reason you would have done that is by that point, you are going to suffer a full pit loss anyway. 

“You may as well stay out and just gamble on the fact that it was quite likely someone would have a crash, as happened, and that they are forced to red flag it.”

Mercedes avoid guessing red-flag scenarios

The red flag was deployed after Franco Colapinto suffered a heavy crash under safety car conditions.

Shovlin revealed Mercedes do not typically consider the possibility of red flags when it comes to pre-empting its in-race strategy.

“Prior to that, stopping to us made sense, because given that Lando was coming in, George was able to do that,” he said.

“He would have still been ahead of all those cars that stayed out. But you get the benefit of fresh rubber in case they do not call it as a red flag. 

“Normally, we try not to assume that there is going to be a red flag, because sometimes you get it right, sometimes you get it wrong. 

“If there is a safety car and you decide to stay out, assuming a red flag, if you do not get it, you are in trouble. 

“But obviously, the cars that did stay out, that gamble worked for them, and they ended up in prime position.”