Mercedes group principal Toto Wolff has described decision-making over penalties in the US Grand Prix as “biased” after George Russell and Lando Norris had been punished, whereas Max Verstappen escaped with out difficulty.
Russell was given a five-second penalty early on for forcing Sauber driver Valtteri Bottas off-track at Flip 12, though shrugged off the hindrance to complete sixth having began from the pitlane.
Yuki Tsunoda was handed the identical punishment for pushing Alex Albon huge because the RB and Williams scrapped mid-race, however Verstappen twice escaped penalty for comparable incidents.
His Flip 1 lunge on championship rival Norris, which allowed Charles Leclerc by way of en path to victory, was not checked out by the FIA race stewards, although the extra controversial incident got here within the closing levels.
As his onerous tyres light and Norris attacked on more energizing rubber, the Dutchman braked late into Flip 12 to maintain third. With each drivers working huge, the McLaren driver accelerated whereas off-track to take the place, ultimately being handed a five-second penalty for leaving the observe and gaining a bonus.
This left Wolff annoyed and, having initially known as Russell’s penalty a “complete joke” over group radio, he prompt bias when speaking to his driver on the cool-down lap.
After Russell inquired whether or not Verstappen had been penalised for his Flip 1 transfer, Wolff replied: “He did not get a penalty, and on the finish, Lando obtained a penalty for being pressured off and overtaking on the skin. I suppose it’s a bit biased decision-making.”
Toto Wolff, Crew Principal and CEO, Mercedes-AMG F1 Crew
Picture by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Pictures
Chatting with Sky Sports activities F1 on the scenario, Wolff added: “It’s inconsistent. With Valtteri, it wasn’t even a race. [In the sprint] we noticed a number of of these incidents that had been precisely the identical and weren’t penalised when racing for positions, actual positions truly. So receiving that penalty is totally odd and weird.
“I believe we all know why, however I am unable to say that on tv.”
Requested if that was as a result of over-judicious stewarding, Wolff replied: “Typically there are correlations. When there’s decision-making that could be a bit fascinating.”
Wolff by no means named the stewards explicitly in his solutions and completed: “On the finish of the day, it’s a troublesome job. Some are superb, some try their greatest, and you should salute these guys.”