Mercedes workforce principal Toto Wolff says Pink Bull’s protest was “petty” and “embarrassing” as George Russell completed first forward of four-time world champion Max Verstappen at Sunday’s Canadian Grand Prix.
Russell claimed Mercedes’ first win of the season because the race completed beneath the protection automotive, with Lando Norris having hit McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri’s automotive on the pit straight with 4 laps to go.
Pink Bull lodged a protest, claiming Russell drove “erratically” behind the protection automotive and displayed “unsportsmanlike behaviour”, however it was rejected by the stewards.
“To start with, it took workforce Pink Bull Racing two hours earlier than they launched the protest, in order that was of their doing,” Wolff informed Sky Sports activities on the New York premiere of F1, starring Brad Pitt.
“It is so petty and so small. They provide you with some bizarre clauses, what they name clauses. I assume the FIA wants to have a look at that as a result of it is so far-fetched it was rejected.
“You realize, you race, you win and also you lose on monitor. That was a good victory for us, like so many they’d up to now. And it is simply embarrassing.”
Pink Bull boss Christian Horner, additionally in attendance on the film launch, instructed he had no regrets lodging a grievance.
“No, completely not. I imply, it is a workforce’s proper to take action. We noticed one thing we did not suppose was fairly proper.
“You’ve gotten the power to place it in entrance of the stewards and so that is what we selected to do. Completely no regrets in that.”
Sunday’s discord was not the primary time Pink Bull and Mercedes have clashed this season. On the Spanish Grand Prix, Pink Bull’s Max Verstappen stated “frustration” led to his collision with George Russell.
