Toto Wolff brandishes Red Bull protest ‘petty' and 'embarrassing'
Red Bull challenged Russell's victory in Montreal for both driving erratically and committing unsportsmanlike conduct behind the safety car, a claim which was rejected by the stewards.
It was the second time they had launched a protest against the Mercedes driver this season following a claim he had failed to slow sufficiently under yellow flags in Miami.
🗣️ "It's so petty and so small"
Toto Wolff has branded Red Bull's protest of George Russell's win in Canada as 'petty and embarrassing' 🎙️ pic.twitter.com/3UMwU5VSnd
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) June 17, 2025
Speaking to Sky Sports at the launch of the new F1 movie in New York, Mercedes principal Wolff said: 'First of all, it took team Red Bull Racing two hours before they launched the protest, so that was in their doing. You know, honestly, it's so petty and so small.
'They come up with some weird clauses, what they call clauses. I guess the FIA needs to look at that because it's so far-fetched it was rejected.
'You know, you race, you win and you lose on track. That was a fair victory for us, like so many they had in the past. And it's just embarrassing.'
Russell's win in Montreal was a first of the season for Mercedes and the protest represented the latest in a series of controversies involving he and four-time world champion Verstappen.
🗣️ "It's a teams right to do so"
Christian Horner says he has 'no regrets' over challenging George Russell's Canadian GP win 🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/6amTyVb33P
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) June 17, 2025
However speaking at the same event, Red Bull boss Christian Horner insisted he had no regrets about the decision to go to the stewards.
Horner said: 'No, absolutely not. I mean, it's a team's right to do so. You know, we saw something we didn't think was quite right.
'You have the ability to put it in front of the stewards and so that's what we chose to do. Absolutely no regrets in that.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time Out
2 hours ago
- Time Out
With bid greenlit, Thailand revs in F1 pole position
Ever since whispers began about Thailand becoming the next host of the world's premier motorsport, momentum has been building at full throttle. Now, following Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra's headline-grabbing appearance at Circuit de Monaco, that dream is gaining serious traction. With the Thai cabinet approving a B40 billion bid to host a Grand Prix in Bangkok, the chequered flag is now one step closer. According to Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong, the high-octane bid would secure the country's spot on the F1 world stage for five action-packed years from when it comes to where the rubber will meet the road, government spokesman Jirayu Houngsub revealed that the race is set to take place in and around Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal. The 5.7 km street circuit will wind from Chatuchak Park to the terminal, with additional sections running through the Mo Chit 2 bus terminal, Chatuchak Market area, Queen Sirikit Park and the PTT Plc headquarters. Hosting the event would require the entire area to be shut down for five days each year to allow for race preparations. While that may cause temporary disruptions for nearby residents, the government is confident the economic payoff would be well worth it, with officials estimating the event could break even within its first year. While the 24-race calendar is locked in years ahead, Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has hinted that shake-ups are coming and the kingdom is racing up the ranks as a serious contender for a coveted spot on the grid. Right now, Singapore is the only Southeast Asian nation on the global racing map. Each year, the Singapore Grand Prix ignites the city with three adrenaline-charged days packed with high-speed practice runs, nail-biting qualifying and race-day drama. But this event is more than just a race. It's a worldwide spectacle that turbocharges tourism, floods the spotlight on the host city and delivers massive economic windfalls. For Thailand, joining this elite calendar isn't just a dream; it's a shot to claim pole position and roar into the global spotlight like never before.
Glasgow Times
6 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Toto Wolff brandishes Red Bull protest ‘petty' and 'embarrassing'
Red Bull challenged Russell's victory in Montreal for both driving erratically and committing unsportsmanlike conduct behind the safety car, a claim which was rejected by the stewards. It was the second time they had launched a protest against the Mercedes driver this season following a claim he had failed to slow sufficiently under yellow flags in Miami. 🗣️ "It's so petty and so small" Toto Wolff has branded Red Bull's protest of George Russell's win in Canada as 'petty and embarrassing' 🎙️ — Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) June 17, 2025 Speaking to Sky Sports at the launch of the new F1 movie in New York, Mercedes principal Wolff said: 'First of all, it took team Red Bull Racing two hours before they launched the protest, so that was in their doing. You know, honestly, it's so petty and so small. 'They come up with some weird clauses, what they call clauses. I guess the FIA needs to look at that because it's so far-fetched it was rejected. 'You know, you race, you win and you lose on track. That was a fair victory for us, like so many they had in the past. And it's just embarrassing.' Russell's win in Montreal was a first of the season for Mercedes and the protest represented the latest in a series of controversies involving he and four-time world champion Verstappen. 🗣️ "It's a teams right to do so" Christian Horner says he has 'no regrets' over challenging George Russell's Canadian GP win 🇨🇦 — Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) June 17, 2025 However speaking at the same event, Red Bull boss Christian Horner insisted he had no regrets about the decision to go to the stewards. Horner said: 'No, absolutely not. I mean, it's a team's right to do so. You know, we saw something we didn't think was quite right. 'You have the ability to put it in front of the stewards and so that's what we chose to do. Absolutely no regrets in that.'
BBC News
13 hours ago
- BBC News
Le Mans win proves injury doubters wrong
By any normal yardstick, the Le Mans 24 Hours is one of the most difficult and demanding races in concentration levels alone are virtually impossible to uphold, on public roads at more than 200mph, much of it in the dead of night - a blend of headlights and engine drones creating an almost tortuous assault on the Robert Kubica won the race at the age of 40, with a severely damaged right arm - the legacy of a horrific rally crash 14 years ago which nearly took his life and put paid to a glittering career as a Formula 1 driver who could have won world at Le Mans is vindication for a man whose unsuccessful return to F1 a few years ago was called into question. His talent, though, never was."I don't think my limitations are limiting behind the wheel. I think if someone had doubts in the past I showed those doubts should not be in place," says Kubica defiantly."I'm driving and I'm happy. I remember when I was rejoining F1, there was a lot of rumours and I understand: You see my hand. It's normal to ask questions... if I'm capable, if it's safe."And there was some very extreme quotes of some people which hurt me because I'm the first one who would never like to be back just for marketing or a being a PR muppet." Unfancied, but part of Le Mans 24 history now Victory at the Circuit de la Sarthe on Sunday was exhausting for Kubica, still "dampened" through fatigue after "only getting two hours' sleep" across a race in which he spent more than three and a half hours in the car across five stints, consuming 12-13,000 calories just to stay a result, Ferrari's 499P is a Le Mans icon, having won the race three times in a row - the previous two years by the works cars. Kubica's win was in the privately entered AF Corse - yellow livered as a nod to the early days of Ferrari's time in Modena before Enzo Ferrari moved operations to the now-famous Maranello near Ferrari and the AF Corse team are closely linked, but victory ahead of the red cars is nevertheless more so given the unconventional crew of Kubica, Chinese youngster Ye Yifei and Britain's Phil Hanson. All unfancied at the start, all part of history now."Robert is great to have as a team-mate - he is a great driver, but we also call him the 'technical director' as well because he has so much knowledge," says Ye, who became the first Chinese winner of Le Mans on Sunday. 'Driving the best medicine' Since winning the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix for the big budget BMW-Sauber F1 team, Kubica had proven his worth as cool-headed decision maker in the cockpit, during an era when Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel came to a season of keeping up his high standards in a Renault not befitting of them, Kubica took part in the Ronde di Andora rally, and everything crashed into a barrier and was trapped for more than an hour after severely injuring the right-hand side of his body, and eventually having his right arm partially amputated."I have serious limitations in my right arm but I don't remember how I was driving before; this is how I am now - it's probably one of the biggest successes of my life: at one period of my recovery driving was my best medicine."I can see someone watching my hand, which is normal; but in the end when driving I'm fully in myself. Honestly, I have bigger limitations [elsewhere] in daily life than the race cars."But it was in driving racing cars where so much doubt was cast over Kubica when he returned to F1 full-time in 2019. Many wanted him back behind the wheel, despite the fact he would have to drive the car differently because of the lack of space in an F1's car's cockpit. In an uncompetitive Williams, Kubica was beaten regularly by his up-and-coming team-mate George Russell."People pointing the finger, saying maybe it wasn't safe, and having doubts. They are not doing it anymore," says Kubica defiantly."I asked myself three years ago… I was thinking I should stop. But I'm the most lucky person around the world. I have a holiday all year because I'm doing something I like; for me racing is everything."Everything I do in daily life is to prepare for the race track. I don't know what [else] I would do - [stopping] is a big decision, and a scary one."The passion is still there; the fire is still there. My main engine pushing me is my passion."
