Mercedes Formula 1 boss Toto Wolff has said critics who accuse the team of bias against George Russell are "brainless". The British driver's championship hopes were all but extinguished by an engine failure while he was running third at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia last Sunday. Russell enters this weekend's Singapore Grand Prix 86 points behind team-mate Kimi Antonelli, and will start from the back because of a grid penalty for using too many engine parts.
Wolff described accusations of favouritism towards Antonelli as "completely nonsensical". "Do they think I have a button that says, 'George engine failure now'?" he asked, adding that the team has always aimed to provide both drivers with equal material. He said social media had fuelled the criticism, adding that he often found the abuse entertaining.
Wolff stressed that he has pursued a policy of equality between drivers since taking over the leadership of Mercedes in 2013. He described a close personal relationship with both Russell and Antonelli, who have been with the team since they were young, and said he and his wife Susie socialise with Russell and his fiancee Carmen Montero Mundt.
To show equal treatment, the team has split its car specifications at Marina Bay. Russell is using the previous spec car and Antonelli the new one, after an upgrade in Malaysia failed to deliver the expected gain. Wolff said the outcome could shape Mercedes' preparations for 2027.
Source: BBC Sport · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing