Mercedes admit pit-stop miscommunication at Monaco Grand Prix

Hamilton's pivotal pit-stop on Lap 51 aimed to undercut Max Verstappen, who was ahead of him at the time. The move, strategic on fresh Pirelli tires, was intended to leapfrog Verstappen, who responded promptly to cover off Hamilton's advance.

Yet, the outcome was a sixth-place finish for Verstappen and a seventh-place for Hamilton, marking the first time since 2017 that neither stood on the podium in Monaco.

Wolff acknowledged the pit-wall's misstep in conveying the urgency of the out-lap to Hamilton. "It should have been an 'out-lap critical' message," Wolff conceded.

"But then there was a debate whether any out-lap would be enough from the new tyre." The confusion left Hamilton without the necessary urgency to maximize the advantage of fresh rubber.

Amidst the miscommunication, Mercedes opted not to call in George Russell from fifth, relying on his ability to preserve his tires over the remaining laps.

Russell's disciplined approach paid dividends, fending off late pressure from Verstappen and securing a commendable finish.

Wolff elaborated on the team's internal deliberations, expressing concerns over tire degradation and its implications for the race's latter stages.

"It was the wrong message to Lewis; this was the team's fault," he admitted, reflecting on the repercussions of the flawed communication.

As the F1 caravan gears up for the next challenge, attention turns to the Canadian Grand Prix, slated for the weekend of June 7-9. Against the backdrop of Montreal's Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, drivers and teams will navigate 70 laps of high-speed drama, each poised to execute their strategies in pursuit of victory.