Given the dominance of Max Verstappen and Lando Norris, Mercedes had to do the best that they could to maximise the number of points available to them.
They benefitted from McLaren’s Oscar Piastri being demoted to 7 for breaching track limits on his fastest lap which put George Russell on the second row of the grid.
Ferrari star Charles Leclerc’s race was ruined after the first corner when he suffered damage to his front wing, while Verstappen’s teammate Sergio Perez wasn’t a threat at any point during the weekend.
However, things didn’t go completely to plan for Mercedes and especially for Lewis Hamilton.
Covering the race for BBC Sport, pit lane reporter Jennie Gow was working at the race in the Styrian Alps.
Hamilton made an error heading into the pit lane for his first stop by crossing over the white line.
It meant the seven-time world champion was handed a penalty and Toto Wolff made the unusual call to get on the team radio to send Hamilton a message during the Austrian Grand Prix.
Given the collision between Verstappen and Norris after laps of battling, Hamilton’s small error ended up costing him the chance of back-to-back podiums.
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Toto Wolff took unusual step to send Lewis Hamilton a message during Austrian Grand Prix
After picking up a penalty for his mistake heading into the pit lane, Hamilton apologised on the team radio for his error which ended up costing him in his battle with Carlos Sainz and a position to Oscar Piastri.
Wolff then felt like he needed to give his star driver some encouragement and said: “Lewis [Hamilton], there is everything to play here, everything to play.”
On hearing that message, Gow said on BBC Sport: “That’s quite unusual for him [Wolff] to come across when it’s not battling for the lead.”
Wolff and Hamilton have an incredibly strong relationship although they only have a season left of working together.
The Brit hasn’t won a race since the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and would love to add at least one more victory to his tally before his last campaign in a Silver Arrow is over.
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Lewis Hamilton was unable to challenge the quickest cars in Austria
After years of being stuck running behind the fastest cars, Mercedes finally seem to understand the full capacity of their cars compared to the other teams at the front of the pack.
They were once again quicker than Ferrari although Hamilton was forced to give a place back to Sainz after overtaking him off the track on the first lap.
The seven-time world champion wasn’t happy after the race and it’s easy to see why.
When the fastest two drivers have their races compromised, Hamilton will feel he should be in contention to win the race, let alone finish off the podium.
Heading to the British Grand Prix, Hamilton will want a positive result at his home race and one of his happiest hunting grounds when it comes to victories.
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