Mercedes driver George Russell wins race, rejects Toto Wolff's criticism

Mercedes driver George Russell secured his second season victory after starting from pole and leading the race from start to finish. He described the event as a calm and controlled effort, noting that a strategic pit stop allowed him to build an eleven‑second lead before the finish.

Team principal Toto Wolff had called Russell "cold‑blooded" in his post‑race comments, a remark the British driver said he did not feel. Russell emphasized that without Max Verstappen’s late‑race pressure, Mercedes would have shown an even stronger performance, staying roughly 20 seconds ahead of McLaren and further ahead of Ferrari. He acknowledged Verstappen’s speed forced an additional pit stop with 28 laps remaining, which he found uncomfortable but ultimately managed.

Overall, Russell highlighted Mercedes’s development over the weekend and stressed that the race strategy, rather than raw pace, was decisive in his victory.