(Motorsport-Total.com) – Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has admitted after the Monaco Grand Prix that internal confusion at Mercedes likely cost George Russell a possible podium.
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Russell had received a five-second penalty for exceeding the speed limit in the pit lane during the 78-lap race in the principality. When he came into the pits during a later safety car phase, the Mercedes crew immediately began changing tires after the car stopped, instead of first waiting for the prescribed time.
This careless moment meant that the penalty was not properly served. Therefore, the stewards subsequently imposed a drive-through penalty on Russell.
Pit stop error costs Russell valuable points
After the race, Wolff explained to Sky Sports F1 that the team takes responsibility for the error: “We just have to keep going. The season is still long. Last year everyone said the title was already secure for Piastri, and then the tide turned again.”
Regarding Russell’s title fight, Wolff adds: “Montreal was a drama because we let him down there, and that was potentially 25 points. But the championship is still long.”
Wolff then explains the background of the botched pit stop and admits an error on the team’s part: “We weren’t fully prepared to bring him in. We had some confusion ourselves with the strategy, then he came into the pits and we didn’t leave him standing for five seconds.” The Austrian makes it clear what impact he believes the error had: “We lost P3 or P4 because of it. That’s a real shame.”
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Antonelli saves Mercedes’ Monaco weekend
For Mercedes, the Monaco weekend was nevertheless successful overall. While Russell ultimately finished only in 13th place, his teammate Kimi Antonelli celebrated his fifth consecutive victory. The Italian thus further extended his lead in the drivers’ standings and is in first place with 156 points, 66 points ahead of Lewis Hamilton. Russell slipped to third place in the overall standings due to the Monaco result.
Wolff describes the mixed feelings within the team after the race as follows: “Part of me is incredibly happy for Kimi. The guys even made me go to the podium ceremony. They said: ‘This is your home race, you should be there.'”
At the same time, however, he also thought of Russell: “I looked at George, he had a weekend that didn’t go well. I want to maintain emotional balance.”
Wolff also emphasized that the main focus now is to rebuild the team and Russell for the upcoming tasks. After the difficult race in Monaco, the entire team’s attention is already on the next Grand Prix in Barcelona. At the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Mercedes hopes for redemption.
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