Wolff defends Mercedes’ call to abandon Russell’s Q3 lap

Toto Wolff defended Mercedes’ instruction for George Russell to abandon a late Q3 lap at the São Paulo Grand Prix and try again one lap later. The rain intensified before Russell could improve; Wolff said the team could not know whether conditions would allow another attempt.

Russell had set the fastest time after the first run in Q3. Lando Norris then went quickest, but Russell appeared to be on course for a faster lap when he encountered Alexander Albon, who was far enough ahead not to impede him. Wolff said Mercedes was also unsure whether Russell should lift off.

Russell vented over the radio, asking why the team had told him to back off and saying he believed his lap was good enough for pole. Wolff intervened to tell him to calm down. After qualifying, Wolff said he did not think Russell’s lap would have been fast enough for pole, that Norris deserved the position and that Norris had performed on another level. Norris took pole, while Russell and Wolff disagreed over whether the abandoned lap could have beaten him.