Wolff didn't back Russell: 'Hamilton would've done it anyway'
F1 News
Toto Wolff has explained why Mercedes refused to grant George Russell his wish to regain his position against Lewis Hamilton in the Imola Grand Prix. The Mercedes team boss seemed to back Lewis Hamilton, who is leaving for Ferrari at the end of the 2024 Formula 1 season.
George Russell will be a Mercedes driver in 2025, whereas Hamilton will move on to Ferrari. However, it seems that Wolff continues to back the seven-time World Champion. Russell pitted in the race and scored the bonus point for the fastest lap, but Mercedes refused when he asked to regain his position on Hamilton.
"I think taking the point for the fastest lap was a little goody. But the lap times were dropping off because we beat the team early, and there was the risk of losing the position a few laps later to Perez. Beating one of the Red Bulls in these circumstances was advantageous. And our tyre life at that moment, on lap 57, the tyres had gone and melted, and that's why we made the call," Wolff explained to GPblog and the other media in Imola.
Why didn't Mercedes allow Russell to regain the position?
"Lewis would've probably taken him anyway. We are racing for P6 and P7 and wanted to keep Red Bull behind. It was a safety call," Wolff explained to Sky Sports.
Mercedes leave Imola having scored 15 points. They are now seemingly far behind Red Bull, Ferrari and their customers, McLaren on pure pace.