Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has admitted George Russell could have avoided his mistakes in Formula 1’s Canadian Grand Prix, but he denied that it cost the side a win.
Russell controlled proceedings from pole position up until Lap 21 when a resurgent Lando Norris sliced past and opened up a seven-second plus advantage out front.
But while Russell regained second on Norris when McLaren acted indecisively on the pit wall, the Briton went wide at Turn 8 and allowed his compatriot back through.
Russell pitted under a second Safety Car later in the race and recovered to third, with Wolff adamant that beating Red Bull’s Max Verstappen constituted a “long shot.”
Asked whether he felt Mercedes lost an opening to earn a first win since November 2022, Wolff told Sky Sports F1: “A victory was maybe a long shot, or a short dream.
“When George was on the Hard, catching up and was showing really strong pace, maybe for a second we thought about it, but you mustn’t be too greedy.”
Russell was attempting to utilise his new rubber when he clashed with Oscar Piastri at the final chicane and slipped behind his Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton.
Although Russell would regain both positions in the closing laps, Wolff conceded his driver should have been more measured with his approach against the McLaren.
“On one side there was brilliance in the race, and then on the other side, maybe he could have avoided [the mistakes],” Wolff proclaimed.
“I think the pass [on Piastri] was never on in that corner. As a driver, what makes his overtakes good are that he takes a risk and he drives very hard.
“And this one was maybe a bit too ambitious, cost a position, but he regained that afterwards.”
However, Wolff denies the glancing blow with Piastri prevented Russell from winning and instead centred his emotions on the encouragement from Mercedes’ speed.
Question on whether the Piastri incident cost Russell a greater shot at the win, Wolff responded: “I think P2 was on in the end.
“I don’t know whether Lando had an issue, was dropping off, took it easy, but equally it could have been another position without that.
“But what could have been is not relevant. What’s important is that we provided the drivers with a quick car.
“We need to take the positive because we have taken a real step forward, we’re bringing bits, and the development direction is true.”
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