Q: Toto, Lewis wanted desperately to win this Grand Prix - to finally tick the box after eight disappointments. He was pushing Nico very hard, and at one point asked for a strategy change – but it did not happen…

Toto Wolff: We have our principles when it comes to strategy, in place since 2013 - and they have worked well. We will not change that. In the car you don't have the complete picture. In that particular moment, Lewis's tyres were going off and the talk was about the three-stop strategy. This would have been around ten seconds slower, so he might even have lost out to Sebastian [Vettel]. It was therefore out of the question. Of course the driver in the car is emotional - that is understandable. We have hired guard dogs, not puppies!

Q: So you wouldn't discuss strategy changes with the drivers during a race?

TW: No. We have our strategists - and if the drivers in the car start to make their own [decisions] they would lose every single race. Strategy is not an instinct-driven decision. Yes, the instinct might be right sometimes, but without having the full set of data you are going to get the majority of your races wrong. That's why we keep it as it is.

Q: Can you understand the fans being a bit disappointed when they don't get all-out races?

TW: I can understand. But we have already changed the situation in this respect massively. Think back years ago when top teams had a clear number one driver, and the number two driver was not getting anywhere near the number one. We've changed that. And believe me it is sometimes pretty difficult to manage letting the two fight with each other. Now you could take it even a step further and let the strategists fight each other! But this is not where we want to get.

Q: Now that Nico has also secured P2 in the drivers' standings why not let the drivers decide their strategy in Abu Dhabi? You have nothing to lose any more…

TW: I bet if we tell them ‘go on - make your own race', neither of them would do it!

Q: Do you think that Nico has raised his game and that Lewis has dropped his after his title win? Nico has five consecutive poles and two victories on the bounce now...