James Vowles has been Mercedes’ chief strategist since 2010, remaining with the Brackley te💞am from their daysꦜ as Brawn GP.

Vowles has play꧙ed an int🍰egral role in Mercedes’ run of success during the V6 hybrid era.

As we reflect on his time with Mercedes, ltxcn.top has picked out some of his most memorable strategy decisions that often allowed 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Lewis Hamilton to win and ultimately take the title.

Some of his best…
Hungary 2019

On the surface, 2019 was a comfortable year for Hamilton and Mercedes, but there were a number of races where they faced stiff competition from either168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史: Max Verstappen or 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Charles Leclerc.

The 2019 Hungarian Gra꧂nd Prix was one of them, particularly as Verstappen finally claimed his maiden pole position.

On course to take Red Bull’s second win of th💧e year, Verstappen was running ahead of Hamilton.

With 22 la𝐆ps to go, Mercedes converted Hamilton onto a two-stop strategy in a bid to overtake Verstappen, giving the seven-time champion a crucial tyre offset.

Even with 20 seconds to make up, Hamilton caught Verstappen and overtook him 💧to win at the Hungaroring.

Vowl🃏e🔜s joined Hamilton on the podium after what can only be described as a strategic masterclass.

Mexico 2019

Mercedes’ decision to put Hamilton on a one-stop strategy was crucial in beating Leclerc and168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史: Sebastian Vettel to the win at the 2019 Mexican Grand Prix.

Leclerc was on pole position, but better tyre management, and a great strategy from Vowles, allowed Hamilton to get a🐬head of Leclerc before undercutting Vettel.

An underrated race for Mercedes.

Spain 2021

In similar fashion to Hungary 2019𝓰, Mercedes p꧟ut Hamilton on a two-stop strategy after being unable to overtake Verstappen on track.

They left it as late as🏅 possible before calling Hamilton before catching and overtaking Verstappen to take his 🎶98th career victory.

Mercedes had the quickest car on the day, but theiꦚr strategy was once again spot on.

And his worst…
Austria 2018

A memorable👍 Mer🍌cedes blunder was at the 2018 Austrian Grand Prix.

While the race did end with a double DNF for Hamilton and teammate 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Valtteri Bottas, it was a bad day for another reason.

Hamilton was leading the race at𝕴 the Red Bull Ring when the Virtua෴l Safety Car was deployed due to Bottas’ stoppage on Lap 15.

Mercedes didn’t decide to stop Hamilton, while Red Bull and Ferrari called their drivers i𝓀n for fresh 🌊rubber.

When Hamilton did stop, h♒e rejoined in fourth, behind Verstaꦰppen, Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen.

Vowles ultimately t🌜ook r💝esponsibility over team radio.

"We made a mistake," Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said. "What I think h🥀a♊ppened is that we were running one and two and controlling the race and then suddenly you see your second car, Valtteri, stopping with a hydraulic leak.

"The V🙈SC came out, we𓆏 had half a lap to react, and we didn't. Fact. This is where we lost the race."

Hungary 2021

In what was one of the most memorable moments of the 2021 season, Hamilton was left on the grid by himself as the rest of the field fitted intermediates ahead of the restart following th😼e chaotic events of Lap 1.

Hamilton 🎃was set for a comfortable afternoon with Verstappen well down the order with considerable car damage thanks to teammate Bottas.

Mercedes pit ๊Hamilton a lap too late for slicks, droppꦡing him to the back of the grid.

Hamilton could have still won the race had it not been for a defiant 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Fernando Alonso.

However, it was a day where Hamilton should h♋ave won the race by over a minute given who ultimately finished 1-2 on the day.

Netherlands, United States & Mexico City 2022

Perfect strategy decisions🅷 may not have resulted in race victories but there’s no doubt it would have given Verstappen and Red Bull more to think about.

On at least three occasions in 2022, sub-par choices on the pit 🌱wall cost Hamilton and Mercedes chances of grand prix victories.

At Zandvoort, Hamilton was leading ahead of 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:George Russell, with Verstappen on new soft tyres.

With a potential first win up for grabs, Mercedes could have kept both of their car🐭s out in a bid to hold Ve👍rstappen back.

They didn’t and let Russell stopꦦ for softs, giving Verstappen a free run at H🌺amilton for the win.

Fast forward to the United States, Hamilton inherited the lead thanks to an 11-second stop🍎 for Verstappen.

Hamilton was put on the hard tyre, rather than the mediums, at his final stop, meaning he st▨ruggled to resist Verstappen’s fast charge at the end of thღe race.

Similarly in Mexico, the medium to hard strategy was sim൲ply the wrong one.