Wolff links Russell's Mexico media absence to end of title bid

Mercedes was fined €5,000 after George Russell missed post-race media duties at the Mexico City Grand Prix. Team principal Toto Wolff linked the absence to the end of Russell's title bid, saying the driver was distraught after Kimi Antonelli won the championship.

Russell had congratulated Antonelli after parking his car, but made no media appearances. Antonelli became Formula 1's youngest-ever world champion after finishing third in only his second season.

Russell started second but lost several positions on the opening lap because of a power-unit issue. He was also handed a five-second penalty for a collision with Isack Hadjar on that same lap and finished sixth. Mercedes accepted blame for the engine concern that held him back on the run to the opening corner.

“This was a race for him to win,” Wolff said. Mercedes had the pace, he added, but “we let him down on the first straight”; the energy delivery was not what the team expected. Wolff praised Russell's sportsmanship in going to congratulate Antonelli and noted that Russell had helped bring the young driver into the team.