Toto Wolff has called internet trolls ‘lunatics’ and ‘hilarious’ for claiming that his Mercedes team favour Kimi Antonelli over George Russell.
The Silver Arrows boss was speaking ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix, which takes place on Sunday, arguing over his estimation and treatment of his two drivers, saying: ‘I don’t know what is going on. Do they think I have a button which says, “George engine failure now?”
‘This is where social media goes, people hiding behind their screens. There is a lot of polarisation going on.
‘Sometimes when I read what people write, I find it hilarious. These people really contribute to my own entertainment when they are abusing the team. I have zero understanding and respect for those who come up with these things.
‘Rather than watching Formula One they should do Teletubbies or Mickey Mouse.
‘I have always tried to be the most balanced and transparent with the drivers. I look to it as my challenge to always keep it balanced – and it was not easy with Lewis (Hamilton) and Nico (Rosberg) back in the day.
Toto Wolff has rubbished claims of favouritism within the Mercedes camp ahead of this week’s Singapore Grand Prix
Kimi Antonelli is the runaway favourite for the championship while George Russell is snapping at his heels in second
‘Integrity and respect is something that is important for me. We have had Kimi since he was 11. He’s an integral part of the team.
‘It is very nice to see him grow into a position where he is fighting for the championship at such a young age, the talent he has.
‘George has been with us since he was 17. He is someone I feel a lot of emotion and compassion for. We are very close.
‘We spent a lot of time with Carmen (Russell’s fiancée) and Susie (Wolff’s wife) off the track. We travel together, we have coffee together. That is why it is annoying to have lunatics with no understanding of how the relationship works coming up with these kinds of accusations.
‘Most important is that George and Kimi know how the team is.’
Russell is 84 points back from Antonelli, with a possible seven races remaining, depending on whether the final rounds in the Middle East go ahead at the end of November and start of December, given the conflict in the region.
