Russell: 'Wolff almost caused me to crash' from the lead of Austrian GP

F1 News

Russell responds to Wolff radio message in Austria
30 June at 17:43
5
  • Matt Gretton
  • Editor-in-Chief

George Russell picked up the pieces following the crash between Lando Norris and Max Verstappen to win the Austrian Grand Prix but laughs that his team boss nearly cost him victory. Russell responded with an angry message on the team radio.

"You can win this, George," Wolff shouted over the team radio to his driver. Russell, with the adrenaline in him at the time, could not appreciate Wolff's message and lashed out over the radio. "Let me f*cking drive," the Brit shouted towards his team boss.

Wolff deeply regretted his message on Russell's radio and claimed it was the dumbest action he had taken during his tenure as Mercedes team boss. Russell has since suggested he nearly crashed as a result!

How Russell nearly lost the Austrian GP

"He just screamed in my ear. It should be the most embarrassing moment of his career. I almost crashed when it happened," Russell told Sky Sports before highlighting the positives. 

"It goes to show the passion we have as a team. We've put so much effort in recently. The people at the factory have worked overtime. It feels like you don't get a reward sometimes, but today we have done," Russell concluded.