Toto Wolff: Mercedes boss slams Pink Bull’s Canadian Grand Prix protest towards George Russell as ‘petty and embarrassing’ | F1 Information

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has branded Pink Bull’s protest on the Canadian Grand Prix “petty” and “embarrassing”, however his counterpart Christian Horner insists his crew have “no regrets”.

Pink Bull challenged George Russell’s win in Montreal on Sunday, alleging he had damaged rules for each driving erratically and committing unsportsmanlike conduct behind the security automotive, which was later thrown out by the stewards.

It’s the second time this season that Pink Bull have lodged a protest towards Russell, with their grievance on the Miami Grand Prix in May additionally rejected.

“To begin with, it took crew Pink Bull Racing two hours earlier than they launched the protest, in order that was of their doing. , actually, it is so petty and so small,” Wolff informed Sky Sports activities in New York on the launch of the brand new F1 film.

“They’ve accomplished it in Miami. Now they launched two protests. They took one again as a result of it was ridiculous.

“They give you some bizarre clauses, what they name clauses. I suppose the FIA wants to take a look at that as a result of it is so farfetched it was rejected.

“, you race, you win and also you lose on monitor. That was a good victory for us, like so many they’d previously. And it is simply embarrassing.”

Russell claimed Mercedes’ first victory of the season in Montreal, forward of Pink Bull’s four-time world champion Max Verstappen.

Requested if Pink Bull’s protests ought to have been dismissed faster, Wolff added:

“One in every of them they really pulled as a protest, they did not even observe it via as a result of it was nonsense.

“The second took us 5 hours as a result of I do not even know what you discuss with as ‘unsportsmanlike behaviour’ or one thing. What’s all of it about? Who decides it? As a result of I am 100 per cent positive it isn’t Max, he is a racer.

“He would by no means go for a protest on such a trivial factor.”

Horner: Pink Bull haven’t any regrets

Additionally chatting with Sky Sports activities in New York, Pink Bull’s Horner insisted they’ve “no regrets” about their actions.

“No, completely not [no regrets],” he mentioned. “I imply, it is a crew’s proper to take action. , we noticed one thing we did not assume was fairly proper.

“You’ve got the power to place it in entrance of the stewards and so that is what we selected to do. Completely no regrets in that.”

Requested about Verstappen’s probabilities of including a fifth world title this season, Horner added there’s a lengthy technique to go but.

The Dutchman sits third within the driver’s standings, behind McLaren pair Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.

“We’re not even midway. We had weekend in Barcelona. We received clearly in Imola a couple of races in the past, and as Sunday proved, something can occur.

“You’ve got simply obtained to hold in there. It is a lengthy championship. We do not surrender on something, hold combating until the very finish. If one individual’s going to do this, it is undoubtedly going to be Max.”

Requested concerning the incidents in Montreal, Russell informed Sky Sports activities:

“I feel even Max did not know there was a protest even happening. So I do not know what was happening, what they have been considering.

“I am glad nothing occurred a technique or one other. It was only a little bit of a waste of all people’s time. And two guys who work for the crew, they each missed their flights final night time and all the things.

“It was only a little bit of a faff for everyone. However that is over now, eyes ahead.

“I really feel I am performing rather well. I really feel good with the crew. Who is aware of what is going on to occur, the margins are so shut proper now.”

Subsequent up for the 2025 System 1 season is a return to Europe for the Austrian Grand Prix, which is reside on Sky Sports activities F1 from June 27-29. Stream Sky Sports activities with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime.