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Sky Spots’ Ted Kravitz pushed Toto Wolff to reveal his true feelings about the stewards’ ‘biased’ decisions at the United States Grand Prix, after he said he “can’t say that on television”.
At the start of the United States Grand Prix, Max Verstappen forced Lando Norris wide at Turn 1, but he escaped any sanctions from the stewards.
Later in the race, however, George Russell received a five-second penalty for forcing Valtteri Bottas off the track at Turn 12.
Later, while Verstappen and Norris were battling over third place, Max pushed Lando wide, they both went off the track, and Lando ultimately returned ahead.
The stewards, however, penalized Lando for gaining an advantage by overtaking Max outside track limits.
At the end of the race, when George asked over the radio if Max was penalized for his incident at the start, Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff informed him that he wasn’t, and added it was “a bit biased decision-making but, you know, not surprised”.
Afterwards, while talking to Sky Sports F1’s Ted Kravitz, Wolff revealed his thoughts on the FIA’s stewarding at the US GP.
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“It’s inconsistent I think, with Valtteri it wasn’t even a race,” the Austrian said.
“Yesterday we’ve seen a few of those incidents which were exactly the same that weren’t penalised, racing for positions actually, real positions, and receiving that penalty is just completely odd and bizarre,”
“I think we know why but I obviously can’t say that on television.”
Kravitz then pushed him to finish his thought.
“We know why what? That sometimes we have over-judicious, over-exaggerated stewarding decisions when they should leave things be and let them be motor racing incidents?
Things got a bit heated as Kravitz continued:
“Correlation between certain decisions that are made and sometimes the races where you look at the people who are making those decisions, just to be clear?”
To this Toto replied: “Yeah you said that now.”
Kravitz then said: “I know I said it but I’m trying to get to what you said. I think we do have an issue with the stewarding.
“I think we did hear your radio message to George at the end [of the race], and that is available and people would’ve heard you say that…
“So, I guess this is a story and one of the things that will run,” Ted concluded.
Toto then gave a diplomatic final comment.
“At the end of the day it’s a difficult job, some are very good, some are trying their best and we need to salute these guys,” he concluded.
