Toto Wolff revealed that each one Mercedes-powered F1 automobiles suffered engine issues initially of the Belgian Grand Prix.
Mercedes crew boss Wolff’s revelations got here after George Russell dramatically fell again into the pack on the Kemmel straight earlier than being concerned in a race-ending collision with Lewis Hamilton at Les Combes on the opening lap of Spa-Francorchamps.
Russell ran out of battery in Eau Rouge as a consequence of an unknown drawback along with his Mercedes’ energy unit, and was swallowed up throughout the run to Les Combes. The British athlete was fast in charge “harmful” issues after being eradicated within the first spherical.
Wolff admitted that each one Mercedes-equipped automobiles had hassle
“After I got here out of Flip 1, for some motive my battery was down 30-40% and I acquired fully wrapped up in three automobiles,” Russell defined.
However Wolff stated Russell wasn’t the one driver to have issues, and all automobiles with Mercedes engines face related issues.
“All Mercedes engines ran out of vitality from flip one, so George wasn’t the one one,” Wolff revealed in Belgium on Sunday.
“It affected him greater than Kimi (Antonelli), however Kimi additionally had that drawback to a sure extent. So he (Russell) ended up popping out in fifth as a substitute of third on the finish of the straight. So he misplaced two locations and clearly there was an accident with Lewis.
“It is unlucky. It is a state of affairs the place he loses factors, loses factors within the constructors’ championship and would not have one automotive ending each weekend.”
Russell’s Mercedes teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli held the lead from pole place till La Supply, however Crimson Bull’s Max Verstappen powered previous the Italian teenager on the run to Eau Rouge.
Antonelli overtook Verstappen once more a couple of seconds later, taking his sixth win in 10 races and increasing his lead on the high of the world championship standings.
It was a chaotic first lap at Spa
“It was loopy. To be honest, Max handed me earlier than Eau Rouge after which handed me, so I used to be very confused as to what was happening,” Antonelli stated.
“However then I noticed Charles nearly come as much as me and I assumed, ‘What the hell is occurring?’ I had no clue.
“I used to be simply making an attempt to take care of my place on the observe and I saved trying in my mirrors as a result of I noticed lots of automobiles coming in direction of me.
“But it surely was a loopy begin. Fortunately we had been in a position to come out clear.”
Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, who’ve Mercedes engines of their McLarens, additionally shared their frustration with the ability unit’s habits at Spa over the weekend.
