Mercedes 'left in confusion' by performance inconsistencies - Wolff

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Mercedes boss Toto Wolff was delighted with Lewis Hamilton's performance in qualifying, but a sense of confusion prevailed nevertheless in the German camp.

Hamilton pulled out all the stops to edge out Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen by just 0.045s to claim his 70th career pole but Valtteri Bottas' lack of pace confirmed the inconsistent performance of the team's W08.

The end result left Mercedes with more questions than answers.

"He (Hamilton) put it all together but we are left with some confusion because our car wasn't good," explained Wolff.

"We didn't put the tyres in the right window the whole weekend, and then when the temperatures dropped the car was very quick. So we need some answers."

'We had no idea how it was going to go' - Hamilton

Wolff put the onus on the team to deliver an efficient and consistent racing car but stressed the importance of the driver - and notably Hamilton - in achieving the day's good result.

"Maybe we shouldn't underestimate the driving factor," he said.

"These cars are tricky to drive, and ramping it up until this final section in qualifying is important and he (Hamilton) has been improving his driving all through the weekend, like he did in Singapore."

Wolff didn't agree with Bottas' view that his under-performance was perhaps rooted in Mercedes' latest aero upgrade, insisting that the team would be moving forward with the package.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.