Austrian Grand Prix winner George Russell revealed a near-miss within the closing levels of the race, because of a well-meaning however poorly timed message from Mercedes crew boss Toto Wolff.
Russell capitalized on the dramatic conflict between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris to grab the lead with only a handful of laps remaining.
With 5 laps to go and his head down, targeted on sustaining his result in the checkered flag, Wolff’s booming voice abruptly bellowed over the radio: “YOU CAN WIN THIS!”
Overcome by the surprising successful alternative, the Austrian felt compelled to convey his enthusiastic encouragement. Sadly, the message got here simply as Russell was approaching a vital nook.
Underneath heavy braking, the Briton was understandably startled and retorted with a curt, “LET HIM DRIVE!”
Recounting the second after the race, Russell defined how the ultimate laps had unfolded beneath the sudden surge of adrenaline.
“The tempo felt sturdy,” he mentioned. “The issue I had, Lewis [Hamilton] attacked me early within the race. However then as soon as I obtained again previous him, I obtained a little bit of a spot to Carlos [Sainz].
“I knew Oscar [Piastri] was going to be fast and he type of got here just a little bit out of nowhere in direction of the top of the race.
“On these exhausting tyres for me was fairly troublesome. After which abruptly I had Toto screaming in my ear, ‘You may win this!’
©Mercedes
“I nearly crashed when he screamed into my ears, it was that loud, however I believe it simply goes to point out the eagerness that all of us share.
“It is clearly been a tricky couple of years for us, so it feels nice to be again on the highest step.”
Whereas his coronary heart was clearly in the correct place however his finger just a little too fast on the radio button, Wolff admitted he had completely tousled.
He hadn’t checked the place Russell was on the monitor earlier than blasting him together with his supportive message.
“That was one of many stupidest issues I’ve ever carried out, I’ve to say. I did not look the place he was in any respect,” Wolff admitted to Sky Germany.
“I simply noticed the 2 of them crash into one another. It is the primary time that is occurred to me in twelve years. He is totally on the brakes at 320 km/h and I inform him that the 2 of them have collided.
“I’ve to consider it first.”
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