BREAKING: Toto Wolff slams ‘biased’ F1 stewards before cryptic.....

Toto Wolff slams ‘biased’ F1 stewards before cryptic interview at US Grand Prix

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff sharply criticized the FIA stewards’ decision-making during the US Grand Prix, calling it “biased” following a controversial penalty given to George Russell. The race, held at the Circuit of the Americas, featured several penalties, including five-second time penalties that sparked debate across teams.

Russell received a five-second penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage during a battle with Alfa Romeo driver Valtteri Bottas. Wolff was visibly frustrated with the decision, calling it “a total joke” over the team radio. He believed the penalty was unjustified, especially given the context of the race.

This wasn’t the only contentious decision involving Mercedes. Lando Norris of McLaren was also penalized with a five-second penalty late in the race for overtaking Red Bull’s Max Verstappen off the track. The decision demoted Norris from a podium finish to fourth place, further fueling frustrations about the stewards’ calls.

After the race, George Russell sought clarification from Wolff regarding Verstappen’s actions during a lap-one incident. At the start of the race, Verstappen and Norris clashed at Turn 1, with no penalty given to Verstappen. Russell inquired, “Did Verstappen get a penalty for that [at] turn one?” Wolff responded with a pointed remark, “No, he didn’t get a penalty, and at the end, Lando got a penalty for being fast off and overtaking on the outside. I guess it’s a bit biased decision-making, but not surprising.”

Wolff’s frustrations didn’t end there. In a post-race interview with Sky Sports F1, he elaborated further but left things somewhat cryptic. When asked by reporter Ted Kravitz to explain his views on the stewards’ decisions, Wolff stated, “I think inconsistent. With Valtteri, it wasn’t even a risk. Racing for positions… and then receiving that penalty is completely odd and bizarre. I think we know why, but we can’t say that on television.”

Wolff hinted at an underlying issue with the stewards’ calls, suggesting there was a “correlation” in their decision-making but declined to elaborate publicly. “Sometimes there’s a correlation… when decision-making is a bit interesting,” he added. Despite his clear discontent, Wolff acknowledged the difficulty of the stewards’ job, saying, “At the end of the day, it’s a difficult job, some are very good, some are trying their best. You need to salute these guys.”

Norris and McLaren’s team principal Andrea Stella were also vocal about the penalties handed out during the race. Both expressed their dissatisfaction, particularly with the decision that cost Norris a podium finish. The five-second penalty given to Norris was issued after a late-race maneuver where he overtook Verstappen off the track.

Despite the controversies, George Russell managed to recover from his penalty to finish sixth. However, it was a disappointing day for Mercedes overall, as Lewis Hamilton was forced to retire from the race on lap two after an unfortunate crash, marking a tough weekend for the team.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc took victory at the US Grand Prix, with his teammate Carlos Sainz finishing second. Max Verstappen, who was involved in the contentious battles with Norris, rounded out the podium in third place. The result solidified Ferrari’s dominant performance for the weekend, overshadowing the incidents that marred the race for Mercedes and McLaren.

As the teams head into the final stretch of the season, the US Grand Prix’s decisions will undoubtedly spark further discussions on consistency in stewarding and the fairness of penalties across the grid. Wolff’s comments and the broader reaction from other teams indicate that the debate over the FIA’s judgment is far from over.