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The trophy for Mercedes looked like a copy of the one Wimbledon delivers in the women's category, but James Vowles, head of strategy of the German team , raised it yesterday to the sky of Budapest with a vehemence far removed from the label of the All England Tennis Club. That salad bowl, with fine goldsmith's work, was the recognition of the exceptional work of the British engineer, most responsible for a decision as surprising as risky. A second pit stop that ended up pushing Lewis Hamilton to a victory he didn't even think possible.

«Sorry, I doubted your plan. Of course it was a difficult decision , but I feel grateful to have taken it, ”the pentacampeón confessed during the return of honor, in direct thread with the garage. Pete Bonnington , his trusted engineer, replied in admiration: “You did an amazing job. Only you can make these things happen . Vowles had the same tone: «It was truly impressive. We knew you could give us that. Hamilton's pace, with fresh yellow tires, was unapproachable for anyone. In 18 laps he neutralized the 19.5 seconds lead of Max Verstappen , which he advanced without a blink in curve 1. He even had the last three laps left over.

A moral rearmament for Vowles, a discreet guy accustomed to the worries of a job that only has news for the negative headlines. Three months ago he received reproaches for his resignation from hard tires at the Monaco GP . A year ago, during a moment of genuine anxiety at the Austrian GP , he did not hesitate to take full responsibility. «Lewis, I'm James. I understand you. We are still with you, friend. It was a mistake of mine . I threw away the victory, but now you have another chance, ”he snapped at Hamilton, desperate for his incomprehensible pit stop . Even today, the workers at the Brackley factory remember with affection the exemplarity of that message of encouragement.

Hamilton, even more leader

Of course, among Vowles' virtues, emotional control and persuasion stand out in the face of Hamilton's cyclothymic character. And is that Stevenage's genius is so capable of being dragged by complaints as to achieve, as yesterday, an almost mystical trance behind the wheel. «I honestly didn't know if I could get there, but they told me to bow my head and keep pushing . I take my hat off with the team, ”added the winner, unrivaled on the scorching asphalt, despite the fact that the votes of the fans awarded the award for best pilot on Sunday to Verstappen, author also of the fast lap (1: 17.103) . However, the twisted gesture of the Dutchman yesterday explained for himself the panorama of the World Cup.

In Spielberg, Silverstone and Hockenheim, Red Bull had climbed into a wave of unbridled optimism, but this blow, in a propitious path, is a slap of reality. No one can discuss the authority of Mercedes , who goes on vacation with a mattress even softer than last year. Its leader has 69 points of advantage over Mad Max . Last year, I just boasted 22 against Sebastian Vettel. The final blow is expected in the first two weeks of September, in Spa and Monza , traditional scenarios of its superiority. After 10 races played there since 2014, starting date of the hybrid era, the Silver Arrows only let the victory escape twice in these legendary speed temples.

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  • Sebastian Vettel
  • Max Verstappen
  • Lewis Hamilton
  • Formula 1
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