George Russell: Toto Wolff says radio message to Austrian GP winner was ‘stupidest’ moment of his F1 career | F1 news

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff admitted that the radio message to George Russell in the course of the closing phases of the Austrian Grand Prix victory was the “stupidest factor” he had ever executed in Components 1.

Russell was working third when chief Max Verstappen collided with second-placed Lando Norris. The Crimson Bull driver was compelled to pit with a puncture, whereas the McLaren suffered injury that dominated it out of the race.

Excited by the conflict between Verstappen and Norris, Wolff instantly spoke to Russell on the Mercedes workforce radio, forgetting to undergo the standard protocol of checking that his driver was in the appropriate place on the observe to obtain the message.

Russell briefly responded to Wolfe, who advised his boss to “let him drive” in a message that included an expletive.

“I feel I do know the drivers fairly nicely and what they should be inspired or refocused at occasions as a result of I spend a lot time with them, so I really feel like I do know their psychology,” Wolff stated.

“Nevertheless it’s the stupidest factor I’ve executed in 20 years at Mercedes. I will likely be endlessly ashamed of it. Since you look the place you textual content the driving force, you do not do it below braking or at excessive pace. corners.

“And I did not have a look at the GPS the place he was. I simply noticed these two going at one another and we form of anticipated that after which we simply pushed the button emotionally and stated, ‘We will win.’

“And I might take him out with that message. Think about what that might be like.

“I am emotional, I like that we’re doing nicely and I prefer to see Lewis (Hamilton) and George doing nicely and I used to be simply overwhelmed by the state of affairs. And I feel that is what he stated afterwards, however severely, (it was) embarrassing.”

Coming off simply the second grand prix win of his F1 profession, Russell stated he was nearly embarrassed by Wolff’s message, however he understood his boss was coming from a very good place.

“He was simply yelling in my ear,” Russell stated Sky Sports activities F1. “I nearly crashed when it occurred.

“It exhibits the fervour all of us have. The workforce has put in a lot effort currently. Everybody on the manufacturing unit labored extra time to get the automobile updated. Typically you do not really feel such as you’re getting the reward for that effort, and right this moment we did.”

Russell: I assumed Piastri would catch me

Regardless of taking the lead with simply eight laps to go, Russell seemed removed from sure of victory, with Norris’ McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastre setting the tempo behind him.

Ultimately, the digital security machine, known as in by the race director to permit the particles from the Verstappen-Norris collision, introduced Russell essential assist.

“Truthfully, I assumed he (Piastre) was going to catch me, however I feel catching is one factor, overtaking is one other,” Russell stated.

“So yesterday Carlos was behind me for 10 laps in my DRS and I used to be additionally behind Carlos for about eight laps in his DRS and overtaking was not simple. So I knew, I simply stated to myself: ‘do it what you do finest, no heroics, and also you win this race.’

“That VSC helped a little bit as a result of my tires have been overheating. And it simply allowed me to chill them down.”

Russell ended up coming house two seconds away from Piastre, who continues to search for his first Grand Prix win.

Russell’s 25 factors didn’t change his seventh-place end within the drivers’ standings, however allowed him to shut inside one level of Piastre.

F1’s summer season triple-header ends with the large one, the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. Watch each session reside on Sky Sports activities F1 and Sky Showcase, with Sunday’s race at 3pm. Stream each F1 race and extra with NOW Sports activities Month membership – no contract, cancel anytime