Russell nearly loses control after Wolff's radio boost at Austrian GP
Red Bull Racing/Red Bull Content Pool
Russell reflected post-race: 'I almost crashed'.
SPIELBERG, Austria -- George Russell almost lost control at the Austrian Grand Prix when a fervent radio message from Mercedes' team principal, Toto Wolff, disrupted his focus on the lead. In a dramatic twist, Wolff broke from standard communication protocols, injecting his voice directly into Russell’s ears mid-corner.
"George, you can win this!" exclaimed Wolff from the Mercedes garage.
At that moment, Russell, who had just taken the lead following a collision between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris, found himself momentarily destabilized.
"Suddenly I had Toto screaming in my ear, you know, you can win this, and I almost crashed when he screamed into my ears it was that loud," Russell reflected post-race. "But I think it just goes to show the passion that we all share. It's obviously been a tough couple of years for us. You know, it feels great to be back on the top step.”
Wolff later admitted that his emotional outburst was a significant error in judgment. "I think I know the drivers pretty well and what they need at times to encourage or to refocus," Wolff explained. "But this one is the single dumbest thing I've done in 12 years at Mercedes."
He elaborated on the potential consequences of his mistake: "I could have taken him out with that message! Imagine how that could have felt. I'm emotional...But seriously, embarrassing!"
Fortunately, Russell composed himself and delivered Mercedes’ first victory since the 2022 Brazilian Grand Prix, a race he also conquered. With Silverstone on the horizon, the British driver is eager to sustain this momentum.
"You always dare to dream, for sure," Russell expressed optimistically. "Anything can happen...I'll be on the simulator on Tuesday, back at the factory. So, yeah, really excited for that one."
As the Mercedes team celebrates a much-needed triumph, Russell sets his sights on a potential victory at his home Grand Prix, ready to contend fiercely with a formidable Red Bull team.
Up Next
