Toto Wolff criticises Red Bull F1’s protest after Russell’s Canadian GP win, calling it petty and embarrassing amid Mercedes-Red Bull tensions.
Toto Wolff, Mercedes F1 team principal, labeled Red Bull’s protest at the Canadian Grand Prix as “petty” and “embarrassing,” though his counterpart Christian Horner insists his team has “no regrets.”
Red Bull challenged George Russell’s victory in Montreal on Sunday, alleging he violated the regulations due to erratic and unsportsmanlike driving behind the safety car, a claim later dismissed by the stewards.
Earlier this season, Red Bull had also filed a protest against Russell in Miami after the Briton finished third in the Miami Grand Prix, one place ahead of Verstappen. The allegation that Russell had failed to slow down sufficiently under yellow flags was also rejected.
“First of all, it took Red Bull Racing two hours to file the protest, so it was their fault it took so long to be ruled on. You know, honestly, it’s so petty and insignificant,” Wolff said last night in New York during the launch of the new Formula 1 movie.
“They did it in Miami. And now they’ve filed two protests. They withdrew one because it was ridiculous, claiming George was targeting Max and his license, but the other still had to be adjudicated.”
“They made up strange clauses, what they call clauses. I suppose the FIA should look into this, because it was so far-fetched that it was dismissed.”
“You know, we race, we win and we lose on track. It was a deserved victory for us, like so many in the past. And it’s just embarrassing for them.”
When asked if Red Bull’s protests should have been dismissed more quickly, Wolff added:
“One of them was withdrawn, it wasn’t even a protest, they didn’t follow through with it because it was absurd.”
“The second one took us five hours, because I don’t even know what you call ‘unsportsmanlike behavior’ or something like that. What does that mean? Who decides? Because I’m 100 percent sure that this didn’t come from Max, he’s a driver. He would never protest something so trivial.”
Asked about the incidents in Montreal, Russell said in New York:
“I think even Max didn’t know there was a protest filed by his team. So I don’t know what was going on, what they were thinking.”
“I’m glad nothing came of it. It was just a waste of time for everyone. And two guys, Max and I, working for our teams, both missed our flights last night.”
“It was just a bit of a hassle for everyone. But it’s over now, let’s look ahead.”
“I feel like I’m really performing. I feel good with the team. Who knows what’s going to happen, the gaps are so tight right now.”