Toto Wolff admits George Russell faces Japanese GP challenge after Mercedes tweak backfires

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has warned that George Russell will face similar issues during the Japanese Grand Prix to those he battled against in qualifying.

Wolff confirmed after qualifying that changes had been made to Russell’s car ahead of today’s session at the Suzuka circuit, which left the Briton fighting with too much oversteer.

“We did a set-up tweak on the other side,” the team chief told Sky Sports F1. “Something we expected to have less impact than it had and it put the car on the nose, so too much oversteer and that made it very difficult for him.”

When asked whether the Brackley outfit would be able to revert the changes before the race, Wolff added: “It’s probably the opposite. He needs to carry this into the race now, which is certainly a disadvantage but these things happen.”

While Russell secured second on the starting grid for the race tomorrow, his team-mate Kimi Antonelli will start from pole position.

“When you hear his radio communications and also on the intercom in the garage, it’s just calm,” Wolff said of Antonelli, who claimed his maiden Formula 1 win at the Chinese Grand Prix.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Photo by: Mark Thompson / Getty Images

“Not putting himself under too much pressure. Putting that one lap in that is very good.

“Bono told him to ‘put a banker in’. Then he pushed it a little bit hard on the last one and it wasn’t so good. But it’s really pleasing to see.”

Antonelli was “super happy” after continuing his strong form from China.

“I’m super happy with the session. It was a good one, it was a clean one,” the Italian driver said. “I felt very good in the car and every run I was improving and improving.

“A shame for the last lap because of a lock-up at Turn 11 but it was a good one. I’m really happy with the session.”

Photos from Japanese GP – Saturday