Toto Wolff steps in as Mercedes spot George Russell change after Singapore crash

20 September 2023 , 10:13

955     0

Toto Wolff has shed light on George Russell's post-Singapore response (Image: Getty Images)

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has admitted George Russell was "totally down" after missing out on a podium finish in Singapore.

British driver Russell qualified in second and was third - and in pursuit of second-place Lando Norris - going into the final lap. Hope turned to disaster on turn 10, though, as he clipped a wall and saw his race ended in a matter of seconds.

Russell was chasing just his second podium finish of the season, having taken third spot in Spain back in June. It wasn't to be, though, with his compatriot and Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton climbing to third after the crash.

Mercedes still sit second in the constructors' championship, though Ferrari closed the gap as Carlos Sainz delivered their first race win of the season and Charles Leclerc took fourth. Plenty of the focus after the race was on Russell, though, and Wolff was brutally honest when assessing the situation.

“He is totally down," Wolff told Sky Germany (via GPFans )."The race was suddenly over for him but when we spoke, I told him that he fought and pushed until the end.

Mick Schumacher free to race for McLaren in 2023 after Mercedes deal reached

“Towards the end, it was all about third place and not the win anymore and we just need to leave this one on the track," he added. The Austrian also spoke out about the Mercedes drivers' failure to catch Sainz, while noting Russell started stronger than Hamilton and saying "you can't just swap them both".

"We did not see the pace Carlos had but he managed everything so well," Wolff added “It was top tier. I think we wouldn’t have been able to overtake him and if we tried, we would have collided.”

Will George Russell bounce back next time out? Have your say in the comments section

Wolff admitted his role was now to put an arm around the 25-year-old and help him get back on track for this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix. Russell, however, made his own frustrations clear.

"I think we were half a car's length from winning the race had I got past Lando when I had the opportunity," the Brit said. "I think we'd have been able to get past Carlos [Sainz]. On the last lap, a millimetre's lapse in concentration and it's game over. I'm so sorry to the whole team.

"It was a really challenging race with the tyres dropping off, pushing the limits. It's how racing should be and you make a small mistake and you're bitten for it. It's heart-breaking after such a great weekend.

"The car felt great, qualifying, the race was great and we were bold with the strategy. I feel like I've let myself and the team down. It's tough. We'll be back."

Tom Victor