The Radio Blunder That Nearly Cost George Russell His Austrian GP Win
George Russell found himself in an unexpected position at the Austrian Grand Prix, capitalizing on the dramatic crash between Lando Norris and Max Verstappen to secure a well-deserved victory. But the race was nearly derailed by an emotional and ill-timed radio message from Mercedes Team Principal, Toto Wolff.
Russell had been trailing behind Verstappen and Norris by 15 seconds as he entered Lap 64 out of 71 at the Red Bull Ring. The collision between the leading drivers at Turn 3 opened the door for Russell, who quickly seized the opportunity. However, in the heat of the moment, Wolff's excited radio transmission to Russell could have spelled disaster.
As Russell navigated Turn 3 and Norris and Verstappen limped through the lap, Wolff's voice crackled over the team radio: “George you can win this – you can win this George!” The message, meant to inspire, achieved the opposite effect. An irritated Russell snapped back, “Just let me f***ing drive.” Despite the momentary distraction, Russell managed to cross the finish line in first place, delivering Mercedes' first victory since his triumph at the 2022 Brazilian Grand Prix.
After the race, Wolff immediately apologized to Russell, acknowledging his lapse in judgment. “My bad speaking through your braking, it just… got me,” chuckled Wolff. Russell, showing his characteristic poise, replied, “You got very excited there Toto, very excited!”
Wolff's Reflection on the Incident
In his post-race media session, Wolff described the incident as “embarrassing” and admitted it was a significant misstep. “I think I know the drivers pretty well and what they need at times to encourage or to re-focus, because I spend so much time with them,” said Wolff. “But this one is the single dumbest thing I've done in 12 years at Mercedes.”
The team principal further explained, “I will be forever ashamed of this because you don't message the driver during braking or in high-speed corners. I didn't check the GPS to see where he was; I just saw the opportunity and emotionally pushed the button. I could have taken him out with that message—imagine.”
Despite the close call, the victory provided a much-needed boost for the Mercedes team. Wolff noted, “I'm emotional, I enjoy us doing well, and I enjoy seeing Lewis [Hamilton] and George doing well. I was just carried away with that situation, and I think that's what George said afterwards. But seriously… embarrassing.”
Looking Forward: Mercedes' Upward Trend
While the win may have stemmed from a fortunate turn of events, Wolff expressed optimism about Mercedes' future prospects. “On pace, we were the third-quickest car, and we've been this for the last three weekends,” Wolff remarked. “It's very encouraging to see the upward trend and the consolidation of the trend.”
The Austrian GP win marks a pivotal moment for Mercedes, reinforcing the team's potential for success in upcoming races. “It means there's four teams that won races this year, and it's been just one year, [2023], where we haven't won a race since 2012, and that is good to know,” said Wolff. “Certainly big momentum now in the team to go to a point where we're able, on real performance, to fight for a win—and I think we will be.”
Following the Austrian Grand Prix, Mercedes' 45-point haul for the weekend helped them close the gap to third-placed McLaren to 72 points, showing that the Silver Arrows are not just back in the win column but are serious contenders for the rest of the season.
The incident between Norris and Verstappen, while unfortunate for those drivers, provided an exhilarating moment of drama that showcased the unpredictable nature of Formula 1. As the season progresses, fans and teams alike will be keen to see if Mercedes can convert their upward trend into more podium finishes and race wins.