Mercedes explains intra-team strategy protocol ahead of F1 British GP

Mercedes Formula 1 boss Toto Wolff says his team will stick to its conventional strategy policy of prioritising its lead driver in Sunday’s British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

Mercedes dominated qualifying at Silverstone with it storming to a record 66th front row lock-out.

Lewis Hamilton claimed a 91st career pole position, seeing off Valtteri Bottas by just over 0.3s.

With Mercedes appearing to have no threats from behind, the battle for Sunday’s victory looks to be between the two Mercedes drivers and with overtaking so difficult in modern F1, strategy will be the defining factor.

Wolff ruled out allowing his drivers to run radically different strategies but said Bottas would be allowed to extend his first stint and have fresher tyres at the end of the race, should the Finn be running in second behind Hamilton.

“We will do what we have always done,” said Wolff. “It’s the car leading that will have priority on the stop. And if the second-place car wants to get longer and can extract performance from his tyres that’s perfectly fine with our racing intent.”

Hamilton also ruled out suggestions there would be a difference in strategies.

“Honestly, I think it’s the same as always,” Hamilton added. “We have a philosophy and an approach as a team and we just continue to… we don’t change things unnecessarily. So, I don't think that there will be any difference here.

“Also, it’s not really of a benefit. Today it is quite clear which strategy on tracks like this, just like last year. Actually it was a little bit less clear, I think perhaps than last year but it’s generally pretty straightforward, so it’s unlikely we’re going to change anything.”

In last year’s race at Silverstone, Hamilton ran a one-stop strategy, while Bottas did two - variation the Finn is hoping for in this season's British GP.