'If I was Russell I would have told Toto Wolff to stay out of my business'
- GPblog.com
One of the moments of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix that will be remembered for a long time in Formula 1 is of course the crash between Valtteri Bottas and his potential future replacement George Russell. The incident has been talked about from all angles, but former driver Alan Jones seems to be particularly angry about what Toto Wolff said about George Russell after the race.
Speaking to Peter Windsor on the youtube channel of the British journalist the former world champion says he is angered by the statements of Wolff, who appeared to threaten to remove the young driver from the Mercedes future plan as a consequence of Bottas' early end to the race.
Williams driver, not Mercedes
Jones is therefore well aware of how he himself would have reacted to the Mercedes team boss's statements: "Look, I know he’s a reserve driver for Mercedes and that Mercedes supply engines to Williams, but if I was George Russel I would just say ‘Pull your head in! I drive for Williams, not for you'," Jones said.
The Australian also reads a wider problem plagueing the sport into Wolff's statements: "There’s too much outside influences from all directions. Toto Wolff runs the Mercedes team, and he’s within his rights to criticise George and to express his disappointment, but to say something like that is a bit silly in my opinion."