During qualifying for the Austrian Grand Prix in Spielberg, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff caused a stir with a radio message
George Russell secured pole position for the Austrian Grand Prix despite a yellow flag in the final sector. In hindsight, it’s not just the Mercedes driver’s controversial final lap that’s causing a stir, but also a specific radio message: “George, just drive!”
Some fans might have thought after the session that Russell had previously complained about something over the radio. The third-place driver in the World Championship is often characterized online as someone who tends to make exactly such complaints.
“No, no, no,” was the Mercedes driver’s response to a question about the radio message on Sky Sports F1. “Toto and I talk to each other every day. And I spoke with Charles beforehand.”
Hard-fought pole position
Pole position was anything but a sure thing for the Mercedes driver. In addition to his teammate Antonelli, the Ferrari drivers and Max Verstappen were also challenging for the top spot at times. Accordingly, the team boss’s radio message wasn’t an angry rebuke of the 28-year-old, but rather a kind of pep talk before his final lap in qualifying.
“It’s really been a difficult season for us so far,” explains Russell. “Last year, we were fast in the car every lap. This year, we’re fast one minute and miles off the pace the next.”
“And [Charles] is one of the best qualifiers on the grid. But Toto has always had my back, saying something like, ‘Look, you haven’t forgotten how to drive. I believe in you, we believe in you, and it’ll all work out.’”
“A message like that is more of a reminder of conversations we’ve had in the past. In the garage, he also told me, ‘Just enjoy it.’”
Consequently, Russell explains: “During my lap, I thought: ‘Yeah, I’m not going to overdo it—I’ll just enjoy it. Whatever happens, happens.’”
“And that,” says Russell, “was, fortunately, pretty good.”
Later, Russell emphasizes once again how important such small messages and reminders are to him. The 28-year-old is also aware that outsiders often lack the necessary context.
The Sweet Spot at Mercedes
When asked where Russell found the necessary time, the Mercedes driver replied after the session: “If I knew that, then honestly, we’d be on pole every week.”
The car’s sweet spot, in particular, continues to pose a problem for Russell. While the third-place driver in the World Championship was two-tenths ahead of Charles Leclerc at the end of the session, the Mercedes driver nearly missed making it into Q3. Between his two runs in the third qualifying segment, the team made only minor adjustments to Russell’s car.
According to Russell, it’s incredibly difficult not to overdo it in moments like these when you’re already a few tenths behind. “You know, when things aren’t going well, you always want to try more and more,” he said.
Forcing yourself to brake maybe a few meters earlier is anything but easy for a driver. “But sometimes that’s actually faster,” Russell admits.
Overall, the pole sitter sums up ahead of tomorrow’s Grand Prix in Spielberg: “Moments like that restore your confidence.”
When asked if he believes he can beat his teammate Kimi Antonelli in Austria, the Mercedes driver replies: “Yes, 100 percent. I just have to find the same rhythm as today, as I did in Barcelona, Canada, Melbourne, and China. The results will then follow in the races.”
“I can’t have bad luck all season long,” Russell emphasizes. “So, yeah, it feels good.”
