Formula 1 News: Toto Wolff Defends George Russell’s Performance in Canadian Grand Prix
Mercedes-AMG Team Principal Toto Wolff has come out in defense of George Russell’s performance at the Canadian Grand Prix, despite admitting that the young driver could have avoided making mistakes during the race. Russell, who started from pole position, controlled the race until Lap 21 when Lando Norris overtook him and established a seven-second lead.
Russell regained second place after Norris’ pit stop, but subsequently went wide at Turn 8, allowing Norris to reclaim the position. Following a Safety Car period, Russell pitted and eventually finished third, with Wolff acknowledging that beating Max Verstappen’s Red Bull would have been a “long shot.”
“A victory was maybe a long shot, or a short dream. When George was on the Hard, catching up and was showing really strong pace, maybe for a second we thought about it, but you mustn’t be too greedy.”
Formula 1 standings aside, Russell’s performance was marred by mistakes, including a clash with Oscar Piastri at the final chicane, which allowed Lewis Hamilton to pass. While Russell recovered to retake both positions, Wolff acknowledged that his driver could have been more cautious in his approach.
“On one side, there was brilliance in the race, and then on the other side, maybe he could have avoided [the mistakes]. I think the pass [on Piastri] was never on in that corner. As a driver, what makes his overtakes good are that he takes a risk and he drives very hard. And this one was maybe a bit too ambitious, cost a position, but he regained that afterwards.”
Wolff, however, refuted claims that the incident with Piastri cost Russell a better shot at the win, instead focusing on the positivity of Mercedes’ improved speed.
“I think P2 was on in the end. I don’t know whether Lando had an issue, was dropping off, took it easy, but equally, it could have been another position without that. But what could have been is not relevant. What’s important is that we provided the drivers with a quick car. We need to take the positive because we have taken a real step forward, we’re bringing bits, and the development direction is true.”
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