Mercedes Formula 1 team principal Toto Wolff says people who suggest Kimi Antonelli is being favoured over George Russell are “brainless” and should stick to ‘watching Teletubbies’. Conspiracy theories stemmed from George Russell's engine failure in Malaysia, which forced the Briton into an early power unit change and grid penalty, as it was previously hoped he would benefit from the ADUO upgrade later this month.
Because he is taking a penalty anyway, George Russell is running Mercedes’ older aerodynamic package at the Singapore Grand Prix. The 28-year-old himself suggested it might be worth reverting to the previous version, which he won with in Baku before revised floor and sidepods were introduced at Sepang, where Red Bull prevailed for the first time this season. Kimi Antonelli is keeping those new parts this weekend.
George Russell
On top of this, Wolff’s unblinking facial expression during his brief appearance on screen as George Russell retired from the Malaysian race only fuelled the theories further. However, when the topic was brought up to the Austrian in Friday’s press conference in Singapore and he was asked what to say to those who speculate, he retorted: “They're brainless, whoever thinks that. I mean, it's completely nonsensical. We've had it in the past with Lewis Hamilton fans.
“I don't know what's going on! Do they think I have a button and that says ‘George engine failure now’? Or disadvantaging one driver against the other when we're fighting for a constructors’ championship. We've always had the mindset of providing everybody equal material.” Wolff added that people hide behind screens on social media and lash out, finding the abuse entertaining and calling himself 'Satan' jokingly.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli
Wolff added: “Really, zero understanding and respect for people who come up with these things. Rather than watching Formula 1, they should do Teletubbies or, I don't know, some Mickey Mouses.” Still, Kimi Antonelli's advantage in the lead of the championship is larger than ever before, with George Russell's 84 points in arrears, and one reporter remarked teams are thought to naturally gravitate towards the driver delivering results. Wolff was therefore asked how much he has strived to nurse George Russell’s morale in that context, replying that he has always tried to be balanced since his Williams days.
In the current standings, Kimi Antonelli leads the drivers' championship in 1st place with 320 points, George Russell is 2nd with 236 points, and Mercedes-AMG Petronas tops the constructors' standings with 556 points.
Source: Autosport
