Lewis Hamilton qualifying heroics has stirred Mercedes soul again - Toto Wolff

Hamilton, Mercedes, Britain — Photo: © LAT Images

British Grand Prix

Hamilton qualifying heroics has stirred Mercedes soul again - Wolff

Hamilton snatched the fastest qualifying time from Verstappen at Silverstone

Ian Parkes & Ewan Gale

Friday 16 July 2021 21:56 Updated: 22:02

Toto Wolff has claimed Lewis Hamilton's qualifying heroics ahead of F1's first sprint race has again stirred Mercedes' soul.

Hamilton secured the fastest qualifying time to ensure he would start at the front for the inaugural 100km sprint at the British Grand Prix, heading Red Bull's Max Verstappen by a mere 0.075secs.

Mercedes team principal Wolff believes the gap could have been bigger, however, after the home-crowd favourite lost time at Vale corner on his second flying lap after purpling the first two sectors.

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Asked by Sky Sports F1 if the result had 'stirred the soul' of the team, Wolff replied: "Yeah, it does.

"It is good to come back, especially the pace of both drivers. Lewis could have probably been another three-tenths up if it wouldn't have been for the rallying at the end. So it is good, I am happy about the pace."

Asked where the sudden pace had emerged from with a seven-tenths of a second deficit to Verstappen eradicated from practice, the Austrian insisted it was "not the upgrades" and instead added: "I think it is refined bits everywhere.

"I think the tyres were in the right window and the sweet spot of the car... you can see how it can fluctuate from Verstappen being completely dominant in the morning session and then it swings the other way around."

"Humble" Mercedes ready for test

The result for Hamilton, with Valtteri Bottas just under two-tenths adrift in third marks an improvement for Mercedes after losing out to Red Bull in each of the last five races to lose ground in the constructors' championship.

With this being the first time in his tenure the team has faced an uphill battle for the title, Wolff described the mental approach of the team heading into the remainder of the season.

"We see it as a test because we had seven championships in a row, we were never complacent, we were always humble about it and worrying that someone could catch us up," said Wolff.

"Then suddenly we find ourselves this year with a change of regulations that bite us more than we expected so there is something to learn and also, we are behind.

"It is something we have talked about in the last few years about how we would react if that happens.

"Now, it is the test and we can see whether we can do what we have expected or not but it doesn't win you a championship, but it allows you to stay in the hunt and I am happy how we have reacted so far."