© LAT Images for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff says he told George Russell he’d rather have his crash happen now, than “when we race for a victory or a championship”.
George Russell shockingly crashed into the barrier in the final lap of the Singapore Grand Prix, while pursuing Lando Norris for P2.
After the race Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff praised Mercedes’ bold strategy, and revealed what he told Russell after the race.
“We tried to win and we didn’t,” the Austrian said.
“The positives are that I love the call from the driver and strategy team to say: ‘We are going for it.’
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“The worst case was second and fifth, best case we win or we are in first and second, our planner showed that [was possible] at times.
“I am sad for George because he delivered a 99.99 per cent fantastic weekend and a split-second lack of concentration clipped the wall and it happened.
“I said to him: ‘I’d rather have that happening now and the learning is there than when we race for a victory or a championship.
“That’s going to be engraved in him, this mistake,” Wolff concluded.
