Wolff doesn't understand Russell penalty: 'Sainz cut inside quite decisively'

George Russell went wrong at the start of the United States Grand Prix. The Mercedes driver appeared to brake, hitting Carlos Sainz's car. It was an instant finish for the Spaniard; Russell was still able to continue. The current number four in the world championship did receive a five-second time penalty, which Toto Wolff does not entirely agree with.

The stewards ruled that it was clear that it was Russell who made the mistake at the first corner. However, the stewards were criticised for their decision from several quarters. For example, a five-second penalty would be very lenient; after all, Sainz's race was over. Wolff errs on the other side of the spectrum and believes, however, that Russell did not deserve a penalty for the incident.

"For me it was a racing incident," Wolff was quoted by Italian medium Formu1a.uno after the US GP. Indeed, according to him, the fault does not lie 100 per cent with Russell alone. "If I had been commissioner, I would have said: George braked late, had a brief moment of understeer, but then Carlos cut inside quite decisively."

No DNF for Russell

Russell eventually finished almost 45 seconds behind Verstappen at the Circuit of the Americas, although that was partly to do with a pit stop he made in the absolute closing stages to set the fastest lap of the day. A fifth place was the maximum possible for Russell, Wolff said. The Austrian top man was quite surprised that the hefty touch with Sainz did not result in a retirement.