P1racenews AI automatic summary:
George Russell has shared how an excited late-race team radio message from Toto Wolff almost made him crash, which would have robbed him and Mercedes of its first victory since late 2022.
George Russell expressed his late-race scare on his way to winning the Austrian Grand Prix, following an incident between race leaders Max Verstappen and Lando Norris. Despite running in third place, Russell was urged by team boss Toto Wolff to push for the win, a decision Russell deemed as the “single dumbest thing” Wolff has done as Mercedes team principal. Reacting over team radio, Russell exclaimed, “Let me fucking drive!” Thankfully, the adrenaline-fueled moment did not lead to any mistakes, securing Mercedes its first victory since the 2022 Sao Paulo Grand Prix. Russell revealed the intensity of Wolff’s encouragement almost caused him to crash, highlighting the shared passion within the team during a tough period. Opting for a strategic tire offset with teammate Lewis Hamilton, Russell managed to fend off Oscar Piastri’s challenge and capitalize on a virtual safety car period to secure the win.
