Wolff Furious Over Russell’s Penalty: ‘No One Was Penalized Until George’

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Toto Wolff, the team principal of Mercedes, did not hold back in his criticism of the stewards at the United States Grand Prix. He was furious that George Russell was the .comy driver punished for his actions at turn twelve. Wolff’s ire was further fueled by what he perceived as a similar incident involving Max Verstappen that went unpunished. Additionally, he labeled the FIA’s ruling regarding the ‘illegal’ functions of Red Bull as ‘scandalous.’

Controversy at Turn Twelve

George Russell received a five-second time penalty for pushing Valtteri Bottas off the track while attempting to overtake him in turn twelve. Wolff was immediately vocal about his disagreement with the penalty, broadcasting over the team radio, “That penalty is a complete joke, George.” The situation escalated when he observed Verstappen commit a similar action later in the race without facing any consequences.

“Every driver races hard, but the decision against George was totally inexplicable,” Wolff told the assembled media. “We’ve seen many instances in turn twelve, yet none resulted in penalties until George, and then of course, there was one more.” He expressed disappointment that Verstappen’s comparable action remained without punishment, calling the scenario “not surprising.”

Norris Voices Frustration

Lando Norris was particularly disheartened by the stewards’ decision to let Verstappen off the hook. This ruling played a significant role in securing Verstappen a spot that ultimately allowed him to finish third, which in turn widened the gap in the World Championship standings against Norris. When pressed about his thoughts on the decision involving Max and Lando, Wolff maintained a cautious stance. “I don’t wish to comment on the situation between Max and Lando; it’s not my race to assess. Zak (Brown) and Andrea (Stella) will look into it. I must restrain myself,” he remarked.

Wolff’s Strong Opinion on Red Bull

The conversation took an even more heated turn as it shifted to the controversial Red Bull feature that allegedly allows the team to adjust ride height under parc fermé regulations. Wolff did not mince words, stating, “From what I see and hear, it’s scandalous.” He sarcastically noted how Red Bull reportedly used a broom to symbolize their method of manipulating the ride height, questioning how long it took them to design and implement this device. “I had no idea such devices were utilized in Formula 1,” he commented.

FIA’s Stance Under Fire

Wolff also disagreed with the FIA’s assessment that the entire matter was a ‘non-story.’ “It is simply not adequate to promise that it won’t be used again,” he asserted emphatically. The ongoing disputes and controversies amongst teams, especially regarding **steering regulations** and **penalty assessments**, continue to stir discussions in the motorsport world.

As the season progresses, it remains to be seen how these developments will impact driver standings and team dynamics. With emotions running high, the dialogue surrounding **F1 regulations** and the fairness of officiating will undoubtedly linger long after the race weekend has concluded.

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