Austrian F1 team's radio message to Russell is 'the stupidest thing I've done' at Mercedes

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has called his radio message to George Russell during the Austrian Formula One Grand Prix “the stupidest thing I’ve done” during his tenure.

Russell took advantage of Max Verstappen and Lando Norris’ punctures during a clash at Turn 3 on Lap 64 to inherit an unexpected lead of a distant third place.

With the Briton in position to score the German brand’s first F1 success since November 2022, Wolff came on the radio to tell Russell that “you can win this”.

Russell responded with an urgent plea to “let him drive” as McLaren’s Oscar Piastri closed behind, but the Mercedes driver held on to claim his second career triumph.

Expanding on that comical post-race moment, Russell revealed he almost crashed when Wolff let the excitement of a narrow victory override all reason at that moment.

“Suddenly, Toto shouted in my ear: you know, you can win, and I almost had an accident when he shouted in my ears, it was so loud,” Russell remembers.

“But I think it just shows the passion that we all share, and it’s obviously been a tough few years for us. It’s great to be back on the top step.”

Wolff said that on reflection he was “ashamed” and “embarrassed” to have come close to derailing Mercedes’ victory prospects when he intervened on the radio.

Russell heard Wolff come on the radio as he closed out a surprise win in Austria.

“I think I know the drivers pretty well and what they need sometimes to encourage themselves or refocus because I spend so much time with them,” Wolff explained.

“I think I know their psychology. But this is the stupidest thing I’ve done in 12 years at Mercedes.

“I will always be ashamed because I look at where I convey the message to the driver and I don’t do it during braking. Or in high-speed corners.

“But I didn’t look on the GPS, I just saw those two going at it and we anticipated it and then we just pushed the button with emotion and said ‘we can win this’.

“I could have eliminated him with this message!” Imagine how I would have felt.

” I am moved. I like us to do well and I like to see Lewis and George do well. I was just carried away by this situation, but seriously, embarrassing! »