Wolff says Mercedes must widen W17’s operating window for Russell

After George Russell finished eighth in the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff attributed the Briton’s difficulties to the W17’s tough operating window and said the team must work with him to widen it.

Russell’s race was also compromised by a five-second penalty, served during his pit stop for leaving the track and gaining an advantage, and by becoming stuck behind Oscar Piastri’s McLaren until the finish. Wolff said he could not explain why Russell failed to pass Piastri, arguing that the cars had the same engine and electric charging and deployment. In qualifying, Wolff said Russell had been close in Q2, but Q3 did not work; according to Wolff, Russell took responsibility for that Q3 performance. Russell finished 54 seconds behind teammate Kimi Antonelli, whose ninth win of the season put him on the cusp of becoming the youngest driver to claim the title in Mexico City this weekend.

Wolff also said a Mercedes update remained difficult to operate, though Antonelli had “landed it”. The package appears to have widened the gap between the teammates. Mercedes would retrace its decisions and look for a link between Friday’s poor performance and the relative outperformance on Saturday and Sunday, Wolff said. He called Russell a champion and one of the very best, saying he is “absolutely fast” when the car suits him. “And that is on us. We just have to work it out with him,” Wolff said.