DNFs will make all the difference in the F1 world championship fight

Hamilton lost the lead in the Drivers’ Championship after crossing the finish line fifth in Turkey for the last time.

Hamilton fought his way back from 11th on the grid after an engine penalty, but had battled for a podium before Mercedes decided to leave him out while cars around him pitted for the intermediates, then got him eight laps to go to retract.

The decision to do so was questioned by Hamilton at the time and later analyzed by Mercedes, whose data showed that the seven-time world champion would have dropped into the points if he hadn’t come when he did.

Mercedes said after the race that they wanted to reduce their losses by using Hamilton, and team boss Wolff emphasized the consequences that not finishing a race would have for the fight for the title.

“The whole season commutes back and forth,” said Wolff.

“We make mistakes together. We win together. We have had much bigger swings in the past with missed opportunities.

“That was a very, very close call. We decided on one thing and it went wrong.

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12

Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images

“In the end we lost eight points [in Turkey] Red Bull from a grid penalty. Red Bull [in Russia] were happy about a loss of seven points.

“So it will be very tight until the end. DNFs are going to make a huge difference, and that was a consideration, and not three or four or five points. “

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Hamilton has only had one DNF in his name so far this season and was unable to finish the Italian Grand Prix after colliding with Verstappen that resulted in a Red Bull driver sanction.

Verstappen also retired from this clash. His other DNF came at the British Grand Prix after contact with Hamilton on the first lap of the race.

Hamilton was given a racing penalty, but he recovered and won the Grand Prix for Mercedes.

Verstappen did not see the checkered flag in Baku after a puncture in the lead, but was classified after more than 90% of the race distance.