Wolff ‘ashamed’ of Russell’s radio message

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has admitted he is “ashamed” of his message of confidence to George Russell during the Austrian Grand Prix.

A collision between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris allowed Russell to take the lead after both were forced to return to the pit lane.

Norris withdrew from the race while Verstappen finished fifth.

Immediately after the clash between the two men, Wolff was heard on the team radio telling Russell, “George, you can win this.”

Russell immediately responded, “Let me drive, damn it.”

Wolff called it the “stupidest” decision he has ever made as head of the Mercedes F1 team.

“I think I know the drivers pretty well and what they need at certain times to encourage them or to refocus because I spend so much time with them,” Wolff told media outlets including RacingNews365.

“So I think I know psychology – but this is the stupidest thing I’ve done in 12 years at Mercedes.

“I will always be ashamed of it. You look at where you send a message to the driver, you don’t do it under braking or in high-speed corners.

Wolff ‘could have eliminated Russell’

Russell took his second career victory over Oscar Piastri and Carlos Sainz – however Wolff believes he could have ended the Briton’s race thanks to the timing of his message.

“I didn’t look at the GPS or where he was,” Wolff added. “I just saw those two killing each other.

“We anticipated it, and then we just emotionally pressed the button and said ‘we can win this’.

“I could have taken him out with that message. I’m emotional, I appreciate that we’re doing well and I like to see Lewis (Hamilton) and George doing well.

“I got carried away by that situation and I think that’s what he said afterwards. But it’s really embarrassing.”