Mercedes has “m…. colossally” according to Toto Wolff

The story could have been beautiful, it turned into a bad dream for George Russell. In the running to achieve his first career success in F1, the replacement of Lewis Hamilton in Mercedes was stopped in his tracks by a hugely missed save by his team.

As the safety car had just come into action, the world champions recalled their two drivers to the pitlane, but swapped the tires between the two cars, Russell leaving with the tires of Bottas on its front axle.

“We m…. colossally, said the Team Principal Toto wolff after arrival. I'm not allowed to say that but that's what it was. Simply one of the tire teams did not hear the call.

We had a radio failure in the garage and when the car arrived they didn't know we had to change the tires and that's why we came out with the wrong gear. Technical failures happen, it was not human error. We must understand. »

Andrew Shovlin, head of track engineering, explained the radio problem encountered by Mercedes. “The problem is with how our radio system manages message priorities.

As the safety car came out, we asked for the crew to be ready and for the tires of each car to arrive in the pit lane. At the time this message was broadcast, another radio message for a very brief period prevented one of the key messages from reaching a group of tire officials. »

A puncture then stopped Russell in his tracks a second time, the Briton saving his first points in F1. But his demonstration, notably with a superb overtaking of his teammate Valtteri Bottas, once again showed all his talent.

“This will not be his last attempt to win a race, says Wolff. It's just the beginning of a fairy tale that didn't work out today, and I would say a new star is born. »

Discover the full report and analysis of the Sakhir Grand Prix, produced by our special correspondent in Bahrain, in issue 2290 of AUTOhebdo, available this evening in digital version and this Wednesday on newsstands.